n^ 


K'il 


S^ 


%s^. 


o .  v^.  v^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


7 


/. 


^ 


^. 


1.0 


1.1 


Ik 

Li 


I*    u 
■lUU 


14.0 


1.25  11.4 


150mm 


2.5 

12.2 

I  1.8 
1.6 


V 


>1PPLIED^  IIVHGE .  Inc 

^as  1653  East  Main  Street 
.sss-^  Rochester,  NY  14609  USA 
^SS-^  Phone:  716/482-0300 
JSSS'.^SS  Fax:  716/288-5989 

0 1993,  Applied  Image,  Inc.,  All  Rights  Reserved 


.^ 


i\ 


a>^ 


<^ 


<h 


^  /^     ^^^\ 


'^ 


A 


.V 


•<^^ 


<? 


^ 


\\ 


CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
({Monographs) 


ICIMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  IMicroreproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notts  /  Notts  ttchniquts  tt  bibliographiquts 


Th( 
to 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alttr  any 
of  tht  imagts  in  tht  rtproduction.  or  which  may 
significantly  changt  tht  usual  mathod  of  filming,  art 
checked  below. 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  dt  coultur 


D 


I       I  Covtrs  damagtd/ 


D 


Couvtrturt  tndommagte 

Covtrs  restored  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couverture  restaurit  tt/ou  ptiliculit 


□  Covtr  titit  missing/ 
Lt 


titre  de  couverture  manqut 


□  Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 


n 


n 


n 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 
La  reliure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  interieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  etait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  ete  film^s. 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


This  Item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filme  au  taux  de  reduction  mdique  ci^iessous. 

^"  14X  18X 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire  qu'il 
lui  a  *t*  possible  de  st  procurtr.  Lts  details  dt  ctt 
txtmplairt  qui  sont  ptut-«trt  uniquts  du  point  dt  vut 
bibliographiqut.  qui  ptuvtnt  modifitr  unt  imagt 
rtproduitt.  ou  qui  ptuvtnt  txigtr  unt  modification 
dans  la  mithodt  normalt  dt  f  ilmagt  sont  indiqufc 
ci-dtssous. 

□  Colourtd  pagts/ 
Pagts  dt  coultur 

I    /  I  Pagts  damagtd/ 
LZJ  Pages  endommagits 

□  Pagts  rtstortd  and/or  laminattd/ 
Pagts  rtstaur^s  tt/ou  ptlliculits 

0  Pagts  diseolourtd.  staintd  or  foxtd/ 
Pagts  dteolortes.  tachetits  ou  piqutts 

□  Pagts  dttached/ 
Pages  ditachtes 

QShowthrough/ 
Transparence 

0  Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualite  inigale  de  I'impression 

□  Continuous  pagination/ 
Pagination  continue 

□  Includes  index(es)/ 
Comprend  un  (des)  index 

Title  on  heailer  taken  from:/ 
Le  titre  de  I'entftte  provient: 


Th< 
poi 
oft 
filn 


Orii 
bag 
the 
sioi 
oth 
first 
sior 
oril 


The 
shal 
TINI 
whii 

Map 
diff( 
ontii 
bagi 
right 
raqu 
mat! 


□  Title  page  of  issue/ 
Page  de  titre  de  la  I 

□  Caption  of  issue/ 
Titre  de  depart  de  la 

n 


ivraison 


livraison 


Masthead/ 

Generique  (periodiques)  de  la  livraison 


T 


22X 


12X 


A 


26  X 


16X 


30X 


20X 


24  X 


28  X 


22^*. 

Th«  copy  filmad  h«r«  hat  b—n  r«produc«d  thank* 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of  : 

Biblioth*qua  nationala  du  Qu«bac 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  Ja 
ginAroaitA  da: 

BibiiothAque  nationala  du  Qu6bac 


Tha  imaga*  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
potaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  iagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacification*. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  filmad 
baginning  wit!)  tha  fmnt  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  iaat  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impraa- 
aion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  Ail 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impraa- 
aion,  and  anding  on  tha  Iaat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iliuatratad  impraaaion. 


The  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  — ^>  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymbol  V  (maaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

Maps,  plataa,  charta,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  reduction  ratios.  Thoaa  too  larga  to  ba 
entirely  included  In  one  expoaura  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illustrate  the 
method: 


Lea  images  suivantes  ont  4t«  raproduites  avac  ie 
plua  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet«  de  I'exemplaira  fiim«,  et  en 
conformity  evec  ies  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim«e  sont  filmAs  en  commandant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derni*re  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iiiustration,  soit  par  la  second 
piat,  aelon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  aont  filmte  en  commandant  par  la 
pramlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreasion  ou  d'iiiustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dea  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
darniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  ie 
caa:  la  aymbole  -^  aignifia  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  pienches.  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fiimte  A  das  taux  de  reduction  diff«rents. 
Loraque  la  document  est  trcp  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  il  est  fiim«  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'imagea  nAcaaaaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
llluatrent  la  mAthode. 


32  X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

r 

si 


HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT 


TiITTLE    SISTERS  OF   THE  POOE. 


TUkSBLATBD    WBOU    TBI  WBMSOR    Of 


H  liFON  AUBINEAn. 


«♦> 


NEW  TOSK: 
©.  &  J.  SADLIEB  &  CO.,  81  BABOLAY  »R 
Momnsu.:  No.  275  Nona  Dakb  St.  ; 


Si 


IntoMdtoooidingtoAotof  Congre«,inth«y«Ml877  hr 

D.  *J.  8ADLIBBA00.. 
lhth»Oa(»oflh«LibfMiMiof  Oong»«M,  »t  WMhington. 


1 
1 
1 
f 

I 
e 


6x' 


^H:^ 


F 

n 

a 

b] 
I 


r€ 
£ 
m 
it 

to 

80 


HISTOEICAL  NOTICE 


or  TH> 


LITTLE  SISTERS  OF  THE  POOR. 

[Wbittmi  in  1861.] 

Tm  liistoiy  of  the  oriffin  of  the  various  institatofl 
devoted  to  prayer  and  charity,  of  which  the  Church 
has  witnessed  the  foundation,  is  aUke  instructive  and 
mterestmg.  The  hand  of  God  most  clearly  manifest. 
Itself  therein;  and  its  operation  can  be  traced  out  as 
It  wjcomphshes  Its  object  in  antagonism  to  human 
wisdom,  and  in  the  midst  of  outward  lowUness  and  hu- 
mility; choosing,  as  the  surest  foundation  of  its  most 
extoaordmary  works,  poverty  and  self-abasemeni 

Human  pride  is  rebellious  to  the  teachings  of  the 
past;  facts,  gathered  from  our  own  times,  may  be 
more  attractive  and  impressive.  It  is  in  this  hopi  we 
are  induced  to  lay  before  our  readers,  in  the  present 
sketch,  some  facts  connected  wit'i  the  history  of  the 
liittle  Sisters  of  the  Poor. 

T^e  object  of  their  work  is  known;  any  attempt  to 
awaken  sympathy  and  interest  towards  labors  every- 
where regarded  with  admiration,  and  of  which  the 
results  are  already  patent  and  tangible  in  America  and 
Jliurope.  would  be  mdeed  superfluous.  But  there  is  so 
much  of  instruction  and  consolation  in  this  narrative- 
Oie  weakness  of  the  instruments  of  whom  God  has 
ueeu  pxeasea  to  make  use,  in  coming  so  bountifuUy 
to  the  assistance  of  His  poor,  offers  so  strikin-  a  les- 
son,  and  one  so  opposite  to  modern  theories,  that 


•  HISTORICAL  NOTIOK  OF  THl 

it  is  well  to  make  our  readers  acquainted  with  some 
fljcte  concenimg  the  rise  and  gradual  development 
Of  this  good  work.  In  nothing  can  be  more  plainly 
■homi  the  power  of  charity,_of  that  true  charity 
which  prompts  ur  to  devote  ourselves,  first,  to  God 
and,  then,  to  our  neighbor  for  the  love  of  God 

11      u.?'^  ""^  *^®  ^'^^^^  ^i«*«r8  of  tl»e  Poor  began, 
like  all  the  operations  of  God,  upon  a  small  founda* 
tion;  It  deve  oped,  and  still  supports  itself  indepen- 
oently  of  all  resources,  save  those  vouchsafed  by 
Providence     In  all  the  oppositions  and  extremities 
to  which  It  has  been  subjected,  the  Institute  has 
ttmply  had  recourse  to  prayer.     With  this  support, 
I    •fu^^®'^  enabled  to  give  ample  scope  to  that 
<diantable  zeal  which  it  calls  into  exercise  amongst 
ito  members.     In  this  there  is  something  like  wiiat  is 
coUed   in  scholastic  phraseology,  a  petitio  principii. 
Uhanty  and  prayer  mutually  assist  and,  so  to  say. 
depend  upon  each  other  in  never-ending  extension! 
Chanty  conceives  the  thought,  prayer  obtains  its  reai- 
izafaou:  chanty  thereby  becomes  more  enterprisiuff 
m  Its  projects;  prayer,  ever  growing  more  and  more 
torvent,    beholds  incessantly  the  means    of  action 
developed  and  multiplied.     When  this  pious  under- 
taking was  begun,  its  founders  never  contemplated 
ostabhshmg  an  institute  which  would  spread  ail  over 
JJiUrope,  and  thence  throughout  the  world  itself,  «s  we 
may  ah-eady  say.     They  were  dealing  solely  with  a 
•ingle  and  actual  case  of  want.     God  alone  has  ffiven 
to  the  undertaking  its  fi-iiitfulness  and  its  extension. 
Human  creatures  have  but  contributed  their  patience, 
their  devotodness,  and  their  submission  to  Divine 
inspiration. 

It  was  at  St.  Servan  that  the  work  of  the  Little 
T^"  of  ^^®  ^^^^  *^®&»^-  St.  Seiwan  is  a  Httle  town 
Of  Brittany,  opposite  to  St.  Malo,  on  the  coast  of  the 
Atlantio^by  an  arm  of  which,  twice  every  day  left  dry. 
.«6  .wo  uities  w;e  divided.  The  people  on  these  coasts 
eam  their  livelihood  and  spend  their  energies  upon 
the  sea;  and  to  the  terrible  rava«es  of  this  element 


LTTTLE  8I8TER8  OF   ^HE  POOR.  5 

«i!l^®^  ^^.^®iy®  ^°^«»  unconscious  that  it  is  anrl 

iimoranofi  of  »li  *k„» '       '  "™  and  dig  ^  ^  profound 
o  gwu  wunere  of  the  first  monasterv  of  thfi  viaifo 

tokelSlM  ^  *v  P°'"'  °"*  "^  ''™  «>«  best  course  & 
tti»  »L^  ^"^  numerous  class  among  his  flodk  _ 
this  same  concern  pressed  heavily,  some  dozenT' « 

concerning  af  fife  of  tW«"^^  *?  ?S**'.  ""^  ^^*^ 

Obstacles  could  quench  Thi^l%-w°'  ^?^  *^^*  ^«> 
for  whom  >,«  o„$^    S       "'•^®  restitution  of  the  sonla 

"z  t'S'  fT  tr^'^*"  ^*  «*•  ««-^ 

pubhc  asyW  wh^Lid  * «'  P°T  ""^"^  *^*  ^««« 
shelter  fror^ct^Tst^ln.^  ^a  ''°°'^'^  "^^^  ^^ 
receive  thL  spiritual  Pn^«^^^  !?^  are  supposed  to 
stand  in  need.  ^  consolations  of  which  thej 

inSpen^sSeCthJ^  i'^^  ^««^  *^«  '^sources 

chosen  boii1«  fK.  ":Jl°^®r  ^i  mspiring  m  som* 
moved     V^^a""    Cvuipassion    wiiercwith   he    wsa 

Xm  he  wrte«*!f  ^'^^  *<^/l^o^  ^  thoseT 

P«i«h,  whT^^'n^  S^Sft-  K^  ^2"^e:  girl  of  th* 
.     "o  was  not  m  the  habit  of  attending  hk 


V  HSTOBKUL  MOTIGB  Of  THI 

eonleMioiiAls,  oame  there  one  day,  though  she  wm 
neyer  able  to  explain  how  or  why  she  had  sought 
him  out    The  priest  recognized  at  once  a  fit  agent 
jfor  the  work  he  had  at  heart.    As  for  her,  on  receiv- 
ing the  instructions  of  the  priest  to  whom  she  had 
been  led,  so  to  say,  in  spite  of  herself,  she  experienced 
that  peace  and  consolation   given  by  God  to  souls 
obedient  to  the  guidance  which  He  chooses  for  them. 
She  belonged  to  the  working  class,   was  entirely 
dependent  upon  her  daily  labor,  and  for  a  long  time 
had  wished  to  become  a  nun.    The  priest  encouraged 
this  intention,  and  began  to  have  some  hope  of  one 
day  realizing  his  favorite  project  for  relieving  the 
o^ed  poor.    He  soon  took  notice  of  another  young 
girl  amongst  his  penitents,  an  orphan,  and  in  humble 
circumstances,  like  the  former.     He  persuaded  these 
two  to  form  an  acquaintance,  and,  without  furtlier 
explaining  himself,  assured  them  God  desired  both 
of  them  to  be  entirely  His,  and  that  they  should  serve 
Him  in  the  religious  state.     For  this  honor  he  ex- 
horted them  to  prepare  themselves,  and  to  strive  to 
overcome  all  natural   inclinations   of  their  hearts. 
The  two  cliildren,  for  so  they  may  well  be  called  (one 
being  but  eighteen,  and  the  other  barely  sixteen 
}  ears  of  age),  obeyed,  and  set  themselves  generously 
to  the  work.     The  priest  had  told  them  they  should 
Herve  God  in  the  same  commimity,  and  they  believed 
him  without  further  invostigation.     He  desired  the 
vounger  to  look  upon  the  elder  aa  her  superior  and 
her  mother.     Each  worked  at  her  own  employment 
during  the  week,  and  on  Sundays  they  met  each 
other.    Up  to  the  time  of  the  priest's  recommenda- 
)  ion  to  become  acquainted,  they  had  known  nothing 
of  each  other;  but  from  that  day  forward  they  felt 
united  by  one  of  those  sweet  and  powerful  ties  with 
which  Providence  binds  together  the  souls  He  count« 
His  own,  and  whose  sweetness  and  strength  all  the 
frivolous  friendships  of  the  world  cannot  reaUze. 

Every  Sunday,  after  Mass  at  the  parish  church, 
these  two  girls,  shunning  companions  and  amuse- 


I  she  waf 
A  sought 
fit  agent 
m  receiy< 

she  had 
perienoed 

to  souls 
for  them. 

entirely 
ong  time 
couraged 
>e  of  one 
mag  the 
er  young 
n  humble 
led  these 
t  furtlier 
red  both 
uld  serve 
ir  he  ex- 
strive  to 
r  hearts, 
lied  (one 
7  sixteen 
jnerously 
ly  should 
believed 
jired  the 
rior  and 
>loyment 
let  each 
nmenda- 
nothing 
they  felt 
ties  with 
e  counttt 
I  aU  the 
ize. 

church, 

amuse- 


UTTLE  SISTERS   OF  THE   POOR.  f 

f  ^^'•rV^!?'^''.*''  *^®  ««a-shore.    They  had  chosen 

L!f^u  "^HT  ""  *  '''^^  '  ^^  ^^^^  ite  shelter  they 
passed  their  afternoons  tpgether,  talking  of  God  and 
manifesUng  one  to  the  otSer  their  interior  progr^a 
and  any  transgressions  thoy  might  have  committed 
agamst  a  simple  rule  of  life  the  priest  had  laid  down 

tomed  tiiemselves,  in  aU  simplicity,  to  this  practice  of 

^«v  f^v°!J'  ^'«' 7^^^^^  j«  «^ed  spiritual  conference. 
;^ey  talked  oyer  their  rde,  and  set  themselves  to  enter 
into  th^  spint  of  it.     The  meaning  of  one  sentence 
perplex^  thern.  ."  We  will  deUght  above  wrings/' 
It  said,  "mshowmg  tenderness  towards  those  a|ed 
SISLT^  "•"^^  "^i^^and  sick;  we  will  never  refus^to 
assist  tnem,  provided  an  occasion  presents  itself;  and 
we  must  take  the  greatest  care  not  to  meddle  with 
fT^tl        %  ^ot  concern  us."    They  pondered  over 
ttiese  words  without  at  all  divining'^the  plans  of  him 
whom  they  had  akeady  learntd  to  caU  their  father. 
He  treated  them  as  did   St.  Francis  of  Sales  the 
holy  Jane  de  Chantal,  speaking  to  them  about  their 
vocation,  proposing  certain  communities,  then  ffivin^ 
them  some  different  advice,  inducing  them  to  taS 
3ome  step  m  which  hel,  ow  they  would  be  harshly 
rebuked  ;  m  fact,  he  tricl  their  patience  and  tested 
tneu:  vocatio]^  in  every  possible  manner  for  nearly 
two  years.     During  the  few  last  months  of  this  time 
Of  probation,  he,  in  some  degree,  made  his  desifm 
'^'''',^l?.^^^^f^^<^ommena'mg  to  their  special  care 
a^  old  bhnd  woman  of  the  neighborhood.     The  girls 
obejed  him,  and  devoted  aU  their  leisure  momlntss 
to  this  poor  creature  ;  they  comforted  her  to  the  best 
Of  theu-  poor  power  ;  spent  her  little  savings  for  her. 
kept  her  room  in  order,  and  led  her  every  Sunday  ti 
Mass  ;  m  &ct,  they  did  all  that  charity  cbuld  prompt 
for  her  relief  and  consolatioa    Meanwhile,  Pro^- 
aence  so  disposed  events  as  to  briniy  fthouf.  th«  i^^^s,. 
hmff  of  that  good  work  which  had  been  as  ye?  so 
dmay^owed  out  before   them.      They  became 
acquamted  with  an  old  lervant,  whose  name  is  now 


ii! 


*  BiaTOMGAL  Monca  or  nut  ^  • 

weU  known  throughout  Prance.  Jeanne  Jmran 
jagerly  entered  into  the  propoeed  plan.  She  wa« 
forty-ei^ht  yean  of  a^e,  was  worth  a  little  »um. 
amountmg  to  about  sixlundred  francs,  and  proyided 
by  abor  for  her  daily  wants.  Out  of  economy  X 
kept  house  with  another  pious  woman  much  older 
than  herself  Fancbon  AuXert  seems  to  have  been 
ciiosen  byGod  as  the  primary  benefactress  of  this 
JMtitute.  In  accordance  with  the  entire  lowliness 
of  its  origin,  this  benefactress  was  by  no  means 
wealthy,  ^t^anchon  was  at  least  sixty  years  old  -she 
possessed  a  httle  property,  a  small  stodc  of  fomiture 

T  itni^  ^l  ''"'■y  P^^''^,'  dwelling,  and  a  quantity 
of  hnan  She  gave  up  aU  ;  nay,  she  gave  herseU  tb 
this  good  work  She  shared  the  toils  and  the  priva^ 
tionsof  the  Sisters ;  she  lived  amongst  tiiem.  never 
left  them,  and  died  in  their  embrace.  A  proposal 
was  afterwards  made  that  she  should  take  the  vows 
with  her  companions ;  but  she  felt  herself  too  old 
for  this,  and  remained  with  them  on  the  same  terms 
as  at  the  begmning. 

Into  the  httle  attic,  which  she  shared  with  Jeanne, 
she  joyfully  welcomed  Marie  Th^rftse,  the  orphan,  who 
was  compelled  by  circumstances  to  seek  a  new 
shelter.  Marie  Augustine,  the  girl  first  mentioned 
m  tnese  pages,  came  also,  whenever  she  was  at  lei 
sure,  to  spend  an  hour  with  her  young  friend.  The 
proposed  plan  was  not  at  first  communicated  to 
Faiichon  ;  there  was  no  desire  to  publish  their  inten- 
tion of  founding  a  new  institute  ;  indeed,  the  three 
fiistors  themselves  were  as  yet  scarcely  aware  of  ii 
Their  spiritual  father  had  directed  them  to  abandon 
^emsefves  entirely  to  Divine  Providence,  to  trust  to 
God  for  everything,  and  to  be  simply  anxious  that  they 
might  love  Him,  serve  Him  with  their  whole  souls, 
and  be  devoted  to  the  salvation  and  consoUtion  of 
their    neighbors,   especially  the    aged    poor.      The 

Bisters  did  this  gladlv.  and  besnn<rhf  QqA  t^  w 

their  undertaking,  and  to  look  do^  with'^mercy '^ 
their  trial    of   community  hfe.      Moreover,   Marie 


ne  JugMi 
She  WM 
littlo  bum, 
i  proTided 
>nomj  she 
kuch  older 
have  been 
ss  of  this 

lowlinesfl 
Qo  means 
I  old ;  she 

furniture 
I  quantity 
hersell  to 
the  priva- 
em,  never 

propoHol 

the  vows 
(  too  old 
me  terms 

b  Jeanne, 
han,  who 
E  a  new 
mentioned 
BUS  at  lei 
tid.  The 
cated  to 
iix  inten- 
he  three 
are  of  it 
abandon 
trust  to 
that  thej 
}le  souls, 
lation  of 
>r.     The 

nercy  on 
r,   Marie 


UTTtM  SUTEM  07  THI  FOOBi  H 

ThArAse,  on  taking  up  her  abode  in  the  attic,  did  not 
come  alone.  She  brought  with  her  our  Lord  Him- 
self, visibly  present  in  the  person  of  Hib  poor  Fon- 
chon,  who  was  remarkably  reserved  and  discreet  and 
^thout  inquiring  into  her  friends'  phms,  yet  shared 
theur  generous  devotion  to  the  utmost.  Fanchon,  a 
good  httle  old  woman,  invariably  neat  and  methodi- 
cal, and  hitherto  rather  on  her  guard  against  any 
invasion  on  her  old  habits,  readily  consented  to 
receive  under  her  roof  the  poor  old  blind  woman  of 
eightv  years,  to  whom  they  had  devoted  themselves 
now  for  many  months. 

On  the  Feast  of  St.  Theresa,  in  the  ye^kr  1840 
Marie  Augustine  and  Marie  Th^r^se  brought  homa 
in  their  arms  this  cherished  invalid;  and  the  blessing 
of  God  came  with  her  to  the  newly-formed  household 
The  first  step  being  thus  taken,  room  was  found  to 
take  in  another  poor  old  woman.     Thus  was  the 
house  established.     Nothinff  was  apparently  changed 
m  the  way  of  life  of  its  inhabitants,  and  Fanchon  still 
remained  its  head.    Jeanne  employed  herself  in  spin- 
ning; Marie  Augustine  and  Marie  Th^rfese  worked 
at  their  sewing  or  washing,  occasionally  interrupting 
their  labors   to  look  after    their  two    invalids,   to 
whom  they  devoted  themselves  with  all  the  tenderness 
of  pious  daughters  towards  their  mothers;  solacing 
theur  giifferings,  enlightening  their  faith,  animating^ 
strengthening,  and  inflaming  their  piety.    The  priest, 
whom  we  may  now  call  their  founder  and  mther 
helped  the  little  community  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power;  and  bv  God's  grace  there  was  enough  for  alL 
It  was  not,  however,  enough  for  them  that  they 
could  maintain  themselves;  their  aim  was  to  extend 
their  sphere  of  usefulness.     A  fomtb  servant  of  the 
poor  was  now  added  to  the  three  first.     Being  ill,  and 
at  the  point  of  death,  she  wished  to  die  consecrated 

--    — —7  —    -•    'Ttixi    viXT?  |jiuua   i«auwue    oi 

other  days,  and  embraced  the  Institute  of  the  Little 
Sisters.  She  was  herself  cai-ried  to  their  attic,  where 
■ha  recoTered.    Giving  up  to  God  the  life  which, 


10 


BISIOBIGAL  NOnOB  OF  THB 


aft^  She  had  oflfered  it,  He  had  restored,  she  devoted 
herself  to  the  service  of  the  sick  and  ag2d.  But^ 
^f thf  .^°  Pr^l^^yomen  was  notl^  be iTo^t 
fimt  the  Ohuroh  should  gather  for  God's  glorv  W 
the  noble  devotion  of  these  pious  Sisters.  ^  ^ 
Jhey  continued  to  inhabit  the  attic  for  about  ten 

Tte^/n  f  ^*  ^^^  S^^?  *^^  ^^  probation  the^tot^ 
f  Af  1  ^  ^*^:.   ^^^^^P^  **^«y  *^^  meanWhile  hopld 
|hat  such  devotion  would  soon  awaken  some  genero^ 
interest  m  others,  and  coUect  a  fund  which  wS 
enable  them  to  extend  their  work,   a^d  opeTan 
asylum  for  a  larger  number  of  old  peopk     PerLn^ 
again,  they  had  not  looked  beyond  rhfhumble  fe' 
ginnmg  ^e  have  described.     However  if ^pviT; 
fooked  for  any  human  aid,  they  nTw  diten^^^d  f 
dispensing  with  it;  and  if,  hitherto   twTd  h«pn 
contented  with  the  lovely 'and  cfnso^/ resu^^^^^ 

XertS^hfte  ''^*'^^  ^^"  '^  saSed  n'i 
nJT^f^,  ^S  Terrvt^rer^  ^f 
sweetness  of  deUght  in  such  a  sacrifice  wS  souls 
who  once  have  tasted  it  can  no  more  give  up-  tiiev 

aU  that  m  them  hes,  and  admitti^ff  others  toil^l 
part  with  them,  if  they  will,  in  any  work  which  God 
has  once  appointed  for  them.  ^ 

wHchToWwr  ^f *^r^f d  in  the  consultations 
wnich  took  place  in  the  lowly  attic,  that  the  under« 
takmg  should  extend  itself,  a^d  a  greater  nLto  of 
^d  people  should  enjoy  the  benefits  it  Zposed: 
When  we  speak  of  consultations,  let  us  nofbe  mif 
understood,    Httle  enough  of  discuss^n  ?ook  pC 

^^f^}""  P'^y'  ^®  P^^y^^  himself;  and  when  Se 
iwU  of  God  appeared  clear  to  him,  he  madeTt  knoT^ 
to  tidemleavmg  their  obedience  free:  obe^ence  S 
virtue  of  inestimable  worth  nt  i,.nai.„i"u\^  "?!l!*^** 

toe  Church,  giving  ihem  at  once  their  brightness  and 
their  strength,  and  leading  t^em  forwa^to^Tt^ 


tSTTLa  SISTERS  OW  TBM  P00& 


11 


who  had  any  credit  in  the  town,  as  the  possessor  of  a 

hnlwf  S^^n^'  ""^^u-  IK^?."^^  ^  renounce  the 
humble  dwelhng,  which  had  become  dear  to  her  as  a 

home,  aiid  to  rent  an  uncomfortable  basement-floor 

wine  shop     This  was  large  enough  to  hold  twelve 
beds:  the  beds  were  quickly  there,  and  stiU  more 
quickly  occupied.     The  four  servants  of  the  poor 
notwithstanding  all  the  aid  of  their  good  old  friend' 
Fanchon,  had  enough  to  d^     .o  attend  upon  XeS 
pensioners.    It  was  no  longer  possible  to  support 
themselves  and  ihe  old  people  by  their  daily  £bor- 
It  was  as  much  as  they  could  do  to  give  to  their 
beloved  poor  aU  those  attentions  requu-ed  by  their 
age  and  mfirmities.  The  Sisters  dressed  their  wound! 
kept  the  place  clean,  assisted  the  old  women  in  eet^ 
taig  up  and  going  to  bed,  instructed  and  comforted 
them;   it  was  impossible   to    provide    besides   for 
other  wante.    The  Civil  Bureau  of  Benevolence  con! 
fanued  to  the  old  women,  thus  assembled  by  charity 
beneath  one  roof,  the  same  assistance  given  formerly 
W     ^^  *?^^  bestowing  bread^  and   lending 
hnen.    lo  meet  their  further  necessities,  which  werl 
not  few,  those  old  women  who  could  walk  kept  ud 
their  old  accustomed  trade,  and  went  out  beffffin^ 

T'^^.^J'  ^®  ^^*®^»  prepared  the  meafef^ 
shared  themselves  this  bread  of  charity;  and  ik  this 
way,  aided  by  reHef  which  came  unexpectedly,  and 
often  mtiie  most  extraordinary  manner,  they  stiU 
contrived  to  hve  from  day  to  day.  ^ 

«„ffl^w  ^^}'''^^\''i  ^%^^  ^^«  ^ot,  however, 
sufficjent;  God  exacted  a  fresh  sacrifice,  a  deeper 
humihation.  The  mendicant  trade  of  the  old  women 
had^  faul ,  that  it  brought  them  constantly  Slo 

f^!^t::}T^^/]t'^3^^^,^-^^-  of  farmer 
—y..    -^^^^^^cajj^y^  example,  wiiicii  was  the  pre- 

te^*^V*^^  °*.°'?'*  ^'  *^«««  unfortunate  dea. 
tares.  The  Swters  jealous  guardians  above  aU  things 
of  the  spuitual  wel&re  of  their  poor,  yearned  to  ^eW 


u 


mSTOBICAL  NOnCB  OP  THK 


ttem  from  this  temptation,  and  to  spare  them  also 
^6  degradation  of  a  beggar's  life,  although  most  of 
them,  havmg  grown  old  in  this  vocation,  felt  no  longer 
any  shame  in  it.  The  good  father  then  proposed  to 
lus  children  to  be  no  longer  merely  the  servants  of 
tje  poor,  but  to  become  beggars  also,  out  of  love  for 
them,  and  for  the  greater  glory  of  God.  This  sacri- 
fice was  no  sooner  suggested  to  them,  than  it  was 
cordially  undertaken.  Without  scruple,  without  hesi- 
tation, they  became  beggars. 

Jeanne,  the  foremost  in  this  work  of  love,  seized  a 
basket,  and  mstantly  set  out.  Her  heart  buminff 
with  love  for  God  and  for  her  neighbor,  she  fearlessly 
apphed  for  help  at  every  house  at  which  their  poor 
were  wont  to  find  rehef.  She  accepted,  with  humility 
and  gratitude,  the  scraps  of  broken  food  or  copper 
coins  that  were  willingly  tendered  her. 

Thus  Providence  provided  for  the  Little  Sisters  an 
inexhaustible  resource.     From  that  day  till  now  they 
have  collected  a  maintenance  for  their  poor  by  this 
noble  and  sanctified  alms-seeking.     All  Jeanne's  com- 
panions followed  her  example,  though  she  alone  con- 
tanued  to  bear  the  name  of  "begging  Sister"  for  the 
Institute.  Not  content  with  making  her  quest  amongst 
those  towns  where  the  Little  Sisters  have  already 
foimd  a  refuge  for  their  poor,  she  travels  everywhere  • 
and  you,  perhaps,  dear  reader,  may  one  day  behold 
her  at  your  door,  describing,  in  a  straightfoi-ward  and 
most  touchmg  way,  the  object  of  her  visit,  the  necessi- 
ties ot  her  beloved  charge,  and  the  mercies  of  the  Lord 
towards  them.     Nothing  casts  her  down,  or  disturbs 
her  serenity;  she  sees  the  hand  of  God  in  all  things. 
Grateful  for  what  it  bestows,  she  hopes  against  hope 
for  what  it  withholds,  and  does  not  even  doubt  of 
the  generosity  or  goodness  of  those  who  cannot  share 
her  pious  undertaking.     This  wonderful  self-devotion 
not  only  draws  down  blessings  from  on  high,  but 
con4aoifs  numan  prejudices.     Those  who  are  the  most 
myeterate  against  mendacity  are  yet  struck  with  ad- 
miration for  this  noble  and  courageous  mendicant;  and 


LITTLE  SIBTKB8  OW  THE  POOB. 


18 


i^- 


them  also 
:h  most  of 
>  no  longer . 
'oposed  to 
srvants  of 
>f  love  for 
rhis  sacri- 
an  it  was 
bout  hesi- 

i,  seized  a 

burning 

fearlessly 

ibeir  poor 

I  humility 
or  copper 

Sisters  an 

now  they 

rby  this 

ne's  com- 

lone  con- 

"  for  the 

amongst 

already 

rywhere; 

y  behold 

ivard  and 

)  necessi- 

the  Lord 

disturbs 

II  things, 
nst  hope 
ioubt  of 
Lot  share 
devotion 
igh,  but 
bhe  most 
with  ad- 
mt;  and 


.  It  is  well  known  that  the  French  Academy  has  award- 
ed her  the  prize  of  virtue.    From  the  very  beginning 
this  generous  devotion  surprised  and  touched  all  ^ 
were  witness  of  it;  and  the  questmade  by  the  Sisten 
was  far  more  abundant  in  its  results  than  that  of  th« 
old  women.    Every  one  added  some  trifle  to  the  ahng 
or  broken  victuals  usually  bestowed.    Clothes,  furni- 
ture, provisions  of  various  kinds  were  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  Sisters,  and  thus  their  poor  were  better 
off.     But  linen  was  a  never-failing  want:  what  had 
been  lent  to  them  was  already  insufficient,  and  their 
^stress  was  becoming  urgent,  when  the  Benevolent 
Bureau  who  lent  it,  pressed  by  other  claims,  was  under 
the  necessity  of  withdrawing  from  the  Little  Sisters 
that  linen  which  it  had  hitherto  supplied  to  many  of 
their  poor.     In  this  extremity  the  Little  Sisters  had 
recourse  to  their  wonted  dependence— they  applied 
themselves  to  prayer,  and  especially  sought  aid  of 
Mary,  beseeching  her  to  come  to  their  assistance.    On 
the  Feast  of  the  Assumption  they  erected  a  little  altar 
to  the  Blessed  Virgin.     A  gendarme,  living  near  the 
Asylum,  which  people  akeady  began  to  call  the  "  Good 
Women's  Home,"  touched  by  what  he  saw  daily  pass- 
mg  in  this  happy  dweUing,  took  it  on  himself  to  raise 
and  decorate  this  little  altar. 

The  Sisters  spread  before  it  the  scanty  stock  of  Knen 
belonging  to  their  poor  prot^g^;  five  or  six  well- 
worn  chemises  comprised  its  utmost  wealth;  there 
were  no  sheets.  Such  destitution  touched  the  Blessed 
Virgm:  alas  I  who  would  not  have  been  moved  by  it? 
For  many  days  the  altar  had  numerous  visitors.  Our 
Lady  touched  their  hearts  with  pity,  and  aU  were  anx- 
ious to  relieve  such  dire  distress.  Even  poor  servants 
who  had  no  money  to  give,  took  off  their  rings,  and 
put  them  round  the  neck  of  the  infant  Jesus  in  Hii 
Mother's  arms,  a  tiny  image  of  whom,  scarcely  four 

inches  hifi^h.  mirmnnnfArl    fVio  oUo«.       Ti^  tU^ 

and  by  such  generosity,  *ihe  poor  women  found  them- 
•elves  sufficiently  provided  with  chemises,  sheets,  and 
other  linen  of  which  they  had  most  need. 


*i> 


li 


HISTOMOAL  MOnOB  OP  THE 


His  ^servants,  and  confirm  their  work     Mn^!?^  °f 

^  Xd  afl"?  th*^  to  "l%io»  life  ^dS^J 

W  i,ut  themsdves  under  the  gnidS  of  a  S«^ 
tti.  WM  reasonable  and  perfeo&y  just;  but  Cspirt 


LimJI  BUfi'lHB  OV  TBM  VOOB. 


16 


)ther  voca- 
c  devotion 
ihan  three 
3  plans  to 
iven  them 
fcronage  of 
istine.     It 
work  of 
et  no  one 
indresses. 
med,  and 
t  to  make 
•rk.    The 
Qe  of  the 
I  permit- 
Btancy  of 
reover,  it 
posed  to 
s  mider- 
3St  of  St. 
;  never- 
f  doinga. 
much  at 
Jre  poor 
itraordi- 
Et  it  was 
,  should 
tnunityl 
cipline  f 
d  teach 
fe?  Be- 
ot  have 
le  well- 
e,  there 
TOrk,  to 
Distress 
fe,  skil- 
1  bend- 
E    All 
9  Spirit 


of  God  breatheth  where  it  willeth,  and  the  founder  of 
this  Institute  felt  profoundly  that  he  was  undertaking 
an  entirely  new  work,  tuid  that,  for  a  new  work,  new 
instruments  were  necessary.  However  excellent  the 
religious  orders  may  be,  their  usefulness  is  limited  by 
the  special  work  to  which  they  were  destined,  and 
with  regard  to  which  they  were  in  fact  created.  It  is 
unreasonable  to  demand  of  them  sacrifices,  or  propose 
labors  which  were  never  contemplated  by  their  found- 
ers. Nay,  the  actual  ruin  of  some  congregations  may 
be  traced  to  the  influence  of  those  temptations  which 
seduced  them  from  the  observance  of  their  rule,  and 
from  their  original  destination.  The  founder  and  the 
foundresses  of  the  work  we  are  describing,  did  not, 
perhaps,  go  so  deeply  into  the  merite  of  this  question; 
they  simply  followed  the  inspiration  of  God,  and 
nothing  seemed  more  natural  to  f^em  than  to  aot  as 
they  did. 

However,  with  such  arguments  as  reason  and  pru- 
dence coydd  suggest,  the  devil,  as  we  have  said,  failed 
not  to  mingle  ms  powerful  wiles. 

At  the  same  time  that  so  much  sympathy  as  was 
needful  to  the  very  existence  of  these  poor  was  awak- 
ened in  their  behalf  a  spirit  of  ri(Ucule  and  oppro- 
brium? ^aa  excited  against  the  Sisters,  and  they  had  to 
drain  to  the  very  dregs  all  the  shame  of  their  begging. 
They  were  pointed  at,  ridiculed,  and  made  game  of,  in 
the  public  streete  of  St  Servan;  even  their  former 
companions  at  catechism,  school,  or  work,  nay,  the 
Tery  playmates  of  their  infancy,  were  afraid  to  go  near 
them.  Those  who  were  attracted  by  their  example, 
and  who,  full  of  admiration  for  such  devotedness,  felt 
disposed  to  imitate  it,  were  instinctively  held  back  by 
all  the  annoying  pubhcity  and  reproach  which  was 
attached  to  the  undertaking.  One  only  of  the  four 
foundresses,  ^Marie  Augustine,  had  any  relatives. 
These  spwred.  her  neither  reproach  nor  reprimand. 
Her  younger  sister,  now  Superior  of  their  house  at 
Bennes,  would  sav  when  she  met  her  out  with  her 
basket,  in  quest  of  food,  «  Gtet  along  with  you  I  Don't 


V 


IG 


HBTOMOAL  WOTIOl  OW.  THE 


tt'^  sSer'^^^  ~',n  »4  of  ran, 

'"^»«'Pli«i*y,  not  amongst  KtaeaJte^  ^'''^' 
«.o:^,  on  enterin^fe-^.  o^'^^iT^'S 

His  service,  she  yielded  herseKnn  f^S!!  ^^'^^''f^  to 
wnongst  them  in  this  manner     ^Zihtl  '^*^^.^°»« 

!!LT!.,^Ax?f  ^.^^T^'^  <^i°^  some  account  of  Z 


UTTLE  SISTERS  OF   THE  POOR. 


•nd  of  your 
erior  of  one 
mpressed  by 
nged  to  be- 
I ;  but  when 
they  lived, 
art  to  God, 
sible.   Thou 
'^licite,  who 
a  death  as 
ister  of  the 
ed   with  a 
invoke  St 
istomed  to 
^  for  her 
ihe  added, 
tera. 

ice  of  thia 
rt  of  spell 
who  littla 
ing  within 
rgency,  to 
the  grace 
the  gift  of 
nselves  to 
aing  force 
into  their 
vho  came 
paying  a 
admitted 

cheerful 
partaker 

To  one 
)  needle- 
take  the 
ng  been 
it  of  the 
without 
efullyin 
eirafed 


17 


poor.  They  came  five  leagues  in  the  hope  of  under- 
taking this  charitable  action:  they  performed  it  joy- 
fully; and  on  leaving,  at  the  end  of  a  few  days,  4ey 
shed  tears  in  parting  from  the  Sisters,  and  promised 
soon  to  come  again.  They  did,  in  fact,  return;  but 
not  now  to  offer  to  their  God  a  spare  fragment  of  th«ir 
time:  they  came  to  consecrate  to  His  service,  and  to 
the  comfort  of  ffis  poor,  the  whole  of  their  future  life, 
with  aU  its  energies  and  powers.  In  the  accomplish- 
ment of  one  single  act  of  charity,  they  had  found  the 
grace  of  their  vocation;  their  generosity  had  even 
here  below  thus  met  with  its  reward,— a  precious  re- 
ward, and  one  far  greater  and  more  pure  than  even 
their  devotedness;  for  sur6ly  it  is  no  small  honor  to 
belong  entirely  to  God.  The  Little  Sisters  know  this 
weU— -they  shri^  abased  under  the  greatness  of  this 
dignity;  and  thus  the  virtue  of  humiUty,  sure  token 
of  a  blessmg  from  on  high,  is  nourished  and  kept  no 
amongst  them. 

As  it  is  the  tendency  of  all  the  Christian  virtues  to 
sustem  and  develop  each  other,  so  this  humiUty  and 
confidence  in  God  enabled  the  Little  Sisters  to  sup- 
port with  patience  every  difficulty.     They  gave  them- 
selves no  trouble  about  the  disrepute  in  which  the 
world  held  them,  they  did  not  care  for  its  encourage- 
ments; and  they  only  found  in  its  rebuffs  a  reason  for 
givmg  themselves  up  more  completely  to  the  Provi- 
dence of  God.    Although  the  number  of  the  Sisters 
was  still  so  limited, 'they  continued  to  increase  the 
number  of  their  poor,  and  without  scruple  and  hesita- 
tion, when  their  basement-floor  was  full,  they  bought, 
m  1842,  a  large  house,  formerly  occupied  by  a  religious 
community.    It  is  true  they  had  no  means  to  pay  for 
it.    The  Pwever  nd  Le  Pailleur  sold  his  gold  watch  and 
the  silver  furniture  of  his  altar,  besides  other  things. 
Jeanne  ^«id  a  little  ready  money,  one  of  her  compan- 
ions liad  contrived  to  save  a  little,  and  Fanchon 
readily  contributed  all  that  remained  of  her  small 
property.     All  these  contributions  put  together  were 
barely  sufficient  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  of 


I 


Hi!  I 'I 


1« 


msioitiaAL  Nonoi  or  tbk 


tte  contraot;  but  they  trusted  in  ProTidenoe  to  suddIt 
ttem  the  reat.     Nor  wm  their  oonfidenS^S 

Ibk  to  dZ?  .^"?r'  """  ^".P"''  '"••■  We  are  nSt 
«Ki!-  J  i?  ^  "*^  "'«»'»'  by  which  this  end  wJ 
^  i^  L  «^  Froy^dence  of  G^d  seemed  t^  beInC 
Mtsd  in  Its  oocomphshment,  the  more  so  as  if  »»»»> 
much  confided  in,  and,  to  to  saHvtn  te™„tTh^ 

•    «'Sr^  '"-^  ^  ''"'*  «™^  Xtade^^^dS: 

«^n-nop^^rp;:2?njSfbK^L" 

dd!s  rt^*  wh.ch  was  henceforth  to  bin5  the^^  Be! 
odes  the  TOWS  of  poverty,  diastity,  and  oMien« 
tt^  took  upon  them  also,  at  his  biddLig,  an  aSS 
JhZi  }°^'*1^^^  thus  giving  to  thirvirtTTS! 

«m^r,  timt  ^.finite  value  which  is  accorded  by  th^ 
goodness  of  God  to  every  act  performed  in  His  service 

twe^^was^b^drM  •"Iff'""  '"r''''*''^  '"^« 

M^'Tot^^-ry^'}  '=°4'*«  «™°  ^hiisTu^iU 
M^  but  in  t!  *^'  ^^1  'S"^?'  *«™  ^«s  no  re- 
Th^J^nA^^""^;^^  *^  ^"^  fot^d  sufficient. 

~^i:S'to^  Hi^'^c^e^^Btr^'  -^  r^ythi-g  iB 
brfiftrl   onS  ^      -Broken  victuals,  crusts  of 

&s»  handf^?  f1.^?*  i""  abundantly  into  the 
d^^lt^^A  ,T®^**"s  tender  and  beneficent  Provi- 
«!f.?i2ill^J^.^*?  f«^*^«-.¥lfrom  time  to  S^e 
it8~^r^r7  ";«"^.«^a^e  of  Happy  dependence  on 
trith^^' •  u  ^ufsing  mother  takes  pleasure  in 
withdrawm^  her  mfant  one  instant  from  he/SeasT 


LFTTLK  SISTERS   OF   THE  FOOB. 


19 


that  it  may  receive  it  the  more  eagerly  when  pressed 
again  to  the  maternal  bosom,  so  did  Divine  Provi- 
dence sometimes  suffer  them  to  wait  for  its  bounties 
In  accordance  with  their  constitution,  and  the  vow 
of  hospitality  which  binds  them,  the  Little  Sisters 
provide,  before  all  things,  for  the  necessities  of  their 
aged  poor.     They  divide  all  they  have  amongst  their 
guests,  and  feed  themselves  upon  the  fi-agments  that 
are  left  after  meals.     Although  the  poor  pensioners 
had  sufficient,  and  even  abundant,  fare,  the  Sisters 
had  sometimes  scarce  enough  to  eat.     Once  particu- 
larly, on  a  wmter's  night,  when  the  old  people  were 
already  gone  to  rest,  there  was  nothing  left  in  the 
house  for  the  Sisters'  supper  but  one  quarter  of  a 
pound  of  bread.    Nevertheless,  they  sat  down  cheer- 
folly  to  table,  said  their  Benedixnte,  and  thanke<l  God 
heartily  for  even  this  morsel  of  bread,  which  not  one 
amongst  them  would  have  thought  of  considering 
wdl  earned.    They  passed  it  merrily  from  one  to  the 
other,  each  one  disdaiminff  any  rights  to  it,  and  all 
pretending  to  be  well  able  to  do  without  it.    All 
were  contented,  and  each  one  happy  to  be  able  to 
make  some  Httle  sacrifice  for  God.      He  did  not 
despise  it,  but  was  satisfied  with  then:  good-wiU 
Whiht  this  amiable  contest  was  cheerfully  passing  at 
the  Sisters*  table,  some  one  rang  the  bell,  notwith- 
standmg  the  late  hour;  and,  behold!  Divine  Provi- 
dence had  sent  them   from    the   priest's  house   a 
bountiful  supply  of  bread  and  meat!    A  thousand 
examples  might  be  cited  of  this  unfailing  Providence 
of  God  m  cases  of  extremity.    The  history  of  the 
foundation  of  different  religious  orders  abounds  in 
such  examples;  and  we  may  well  believe  that,  in  the 
case  of  the  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor,  so  generously 
devoted,  and  so  reHant  on  Divine  Providence,  they 
would  not  be  found  wanting. 

_-^ — «,  vi..i=viiig,  au.xj.  MiiXjOi  uuoiT  conuaence  contmu- 
aUy  justified  by  the  generositv  '  this  watchful  Provi- 
dence, the  Sisters  went  on,  ..ying  to  extex^d  their 
labors  m  behalf  of  the  poor.    The  more  they  devoted 


90 


/^ 


]•! 


HISTOMICUL  NOTICl  OF  THI 


W  intrusted  to  Zu^«v°f  ""!■  !'"•''  *•'''*  God 
the  unfortunate  o^Lre^Sk""*!  *'"'.'  "*«  '""^o^ 
together,  were  conquerS^  bT  T  *""•'  .V  «oll«oted 

ttei.  benefuctior^  The  ttv 'T' J"?"""™  "' 
shown  towards  thn,n  ^t  fi?"'  ?  '"'''o^  had  been 
These  po^r^uU  Stht^,::  ^^^  ^''?'"'1»  "'^i'  Go4 

ranee.  ?eviT^"Sce  more  to"!!^  ""^T  "•">  Ig""" 
Jeomedtoknow  tolow  L!?t  t,'"''^''<'P«-  They 
sent  them  in  their  mtsn^vi^,. "''''  ^od,  who  had 
«onate  Sisters  M^?!^  such  devoted  and  compo^ 
courage,  reaSnat^T^  chanmng  mstances  of  virtue 

on  th^parromese  ■„„  Ir  ^'"^l  '"«''*  ^  mentioned 
entere/the  asXm  »  '=^'""^««.  "K  before  they 
«very1ind  If'^^^i J«^  e-«^"y  degraded  bj 
results  which  crowned  twS  *  "*?  *"*  "'  the 
the  many  souls  rede:med  by  the  M  ^T'^^'T^ 
m  such  grievous  oeril  nf  lw„  i  .  ^  °'  "^''^us-  but 
reception  in  Z*!™),!^ '•"^J"^''  "  l""-"  'hut  their 
der  aiat  th^^eal  of^tL^rcT**'  «''"'  ««"  won- 
the  increase  imd  f W  *l  ^,'^*^™  '™«  'orever  on 

«^  to  exteSb  aterfen/""'  ""^-S  ^ette? 
But,  alas  1  as  we  have  »W./  ""f  «?  '^«"'  ''"use? 
ftJl.  quite  f^-  the  sltt  ■'^^  '¥<^'  ""«  ''"use  was 
shelter  to  tie  poor  h^'lffiiS  Tif  *°  ''«'°''»  -"O" 
m  the  garret  Sre  wff  „^^  *^''°  "P  theii*bode 
were  sSl  poor  peoSe  Twant.  Tl  T"  ■  ?«*  ^I^^ro 
and  ito  neighborhood  What  ^^^tl*  ""  ""«  ^O"" 
Sisters  had  a  nin^  „f    "^''' ''»s  to  be  done  ?   The 

treasury     The?Zult^h^°\'^?.l«"  <»•"«'  i"  «ho 
™.     iney  cleared  the  ground,  they  dug 


©  better  they 
k  which  God 
t  the  souls  of 
»ad  collected 

influence  of 
h  had  been 
8  their  God. 
56  and  igno- 
lope.     They 
5d,  who  had 
nd  conipas- 
5«  of  virtue, 
•mentioned 
before  they 
Jgraded  by 
face  of  the 
Jonsidering 
'  Jesus,  but 
i  that  their 
>  can  won- 
forever  on 
ling  better 
eir  house  ? 
bouse  was 
ford  iQore 
leir  iibode 

yet  there 

'■  the  town 

me?    The 

nts  in  the 

Putting 

statue  of 
bey  were 
vuxe  Fro- 
nt hesita- 
customed 
►eginning 
iOTd,  ana 
sufficient 
they  dug 


LITTLE  8I8TEB8  OF  THE  POOB. 


91 


th^  fonndation>  and  tried  to  collect  materials  for 
building.  Yet,  once  more,  God  required  nothing 
further,  and  responded  to  this  intrepid  boldness 
which  nothing  could  dismay.  The  workmen  of  Si 
Serv«n,  moved  at  the  sight  of  so  much  devotion  on 
tlie  part  of  the  Sisters,  came  forward,  oflFering  their 
help  in  labors  so  holy.  The  caiTying  of  materials 
was  also  done  gratuitously,  and  alms  abundantly 
liowed  in. 

An  inhabitant  of  Jersey,  who  had  a  relation  living 
at  St.  Servan,  having  heard  that  she  was  in  want, 
came  to  ascertain  her  condition,  in  order  that  he 
might  assist  her.     He  found  her  sheltered  in  the 
asylum,  so  well  cared  for  and  so  liappy,  that  he  went 
away  full  of  gratitude.    From  that  time  ho  sent  all 
his  alms  to  Father  Le  Pailleur,  and  at  his  death  be- 
queathed a  legacy  of  seven  thousand  francs,  which 
tell  in  most  opportunely  to  carry  on  the  building. 
The  prize  for  virtue,  which  was  accorded  by  the 
Academy  to  Jeanne  Jugan  (three  thousand  francs), 
arrived  also  fortunately  just  in  time  for  the  same 
purpose. 

Before  the  compfetion  of  the  building,  the  number 
of  Sisters  began  to  increase.    The  constancy  of  the 
founders  was  at  last  recompensed  by  God.     They 
were  audacious  enough  even  to  think  about  establish- 
ing more  houses,  although  it  was  really  almost  a 
miracle  that  the  four  Sisters  could  fulfil  all  the  duties 
of  the  house  at  St.  Servan;  but  they  were  determined 
that  this  little  town  should  not  be  the  only  one  to 
X:>rofit  by  their  enterprise.     They  considered  not  their 
own  weakness;  they  thought  only  of  the  good  that 
might  be  accomplished.    So  soon  as  their  numbers 
had  increased,  Marie  Augustine  set  out  for  Bennes. 
No  resources  were  provided  for  her;  she  was  to  trust 
a  second  time  to  the  wonders  which  had  already  been 


TTU'^a.c^x  XXI  xxcx    (,/dxaxi. 


Her  mat  uct  wus,  not  to  raise 


funds,  but  to  seek  out  destitute  poor.  She  took  up  a 
temporary  abode  in  a  wretched  suburb,  full  of  wine 
shops  and  drinking  rooirg.    There,  as  in  other  places. 


23 


u 


Uisfome.u,  nemos  or  rm 


ill 


MUe  Sisters  is   tlmf  .t,  "*  Rood  work  of  th« 

°»ore  consoli',.^,  ttaTtie  ^"XZ'f  .^^^^  "^^  °««' 
Augustine  huJ  doubtleM  lom,  '  s^"*^'""'  Marie 
latter  would  not  be  wSnlTor  !'"'*''«''<=?  ««t  the 

'«ft  the  quttrters  in  which  th«v  h»r*  '',"'''  liouMhold 
Jomo,  the  soldiers  X  fremfit  f  S""'"  "  t«»Porary 
have  mentioned,  lent  theirT^^'"'*  ""«  "™«  "hop"  we 
'to  had  been  ire^y  tLkSi  i^  "^ ''"'  °"  """^n 
Marxe  Augustine,  whom^  "  „"'■    ^*'*  «°°^  Mother 
SuperioriTeft  at  Bennes  fZ1"^f|i°«-  '!^^  ""«  Mother 
tad  summoned  from %f  ^       ""  ®'**«"'  ""lom  she 
new  fouiidation;  and  fie  !^;:r k  *?  '^"^  O"  <^ 
postulants  from  Kents     She  1'''^''.^'''  ^-^  tw 
b«rm  the  house  at  St  g..,™n\T'^  «•»'  the  num. 
her  absence.     The  me^i^rof 'Ik-'"*"""*''  ^"^g 
'iear;  there  was,  in  fSt  ?      J*"?  ""'  perfeotlf 
between  the  titOe  SisteE;  "  l^"*?'.  ""derrtandinl 
Consequently,  the/^re  auirl  ^"T  P^O"dencT 
proportion  madeLTbem^from  S^t*"  ^"'^'•^t"  » 

be  remembered  that  we  ai^tnf  i  -^  l*""^'  I^'  ^^"st 
m  Brittany,^a  country  n|1?''°  ^'^*^  ^  «  ^"^  ^ 
make  their  way  with  ifficX  ^"^""^'T  '"^  '  ^ 
two  pnests  of  th«  f.,v,J^  •  j    ^^   Stmctioaeu  ov  the 

the  Si„ht  Eevet^^ShTp  Tst*^^^^^''''^'^^-^ 
alters  made  their  way  to  ofn^  \^™'"''  ^e  Little 
the  ■  esrUest  care  wa^  Z-thL    \    ^T- "»  «'  Bennes, 
jjnd  :..   .V  :  ^UededXm  Wo~^  "^^  *-  fgedpoor 
had  ;.     .3.1.  ,^„  a  prS^T^L""^*  P'aee  which 
lie8l.ii,',,,r«nesew<.      JT?  '  1    "*'  *™P  and  un- 


gree  of  assist- 
work  of  the 
>  receive  anj 
^le,  and  often 
wever,  Marie 
lice  that  the 
ipled  not  to 
e  household 
a  teniporai'jr 
ne  shops  we 
9  old  wonjen 
ood  Mother 
the  Mother 
';  whom  she 
jy  on  this 
ih  her  two 
^  the  num- 
3ed  during 
'  perfectly 
erstanding 
"rovidence. 
iter  into  a 

^t.  Brieuc. 

>d  service 

-ged  poor, 

It  must 

'A  tl    toVTX 

'-■'^    .;..bt 
^  oy  the 
t)ation  of 
he  Little 
Rennes, 
red  poor, 
3e  which 
and  un- 
derneath 

lie  pris- 
unayed; 


UTTrx  8I8TBB8   Ot   TH  '.  POOB.  23 

in  tLTptiall- J^'C^aJl  Tutto ''''"'^ A 
«ud  it  wa«  in.pos.iblo  to  frt«rtbom  i^'SS'e  ""•,'^""' 

mature  of  these  gooSSr^Xe^  the"Srorr  '^ 
It  WHS  not  tiU  several  mnnH.VY  j  ^  ,  °'  chanty, 
tliey  found  a  TOitaW«  W      *        ^""^"^  """^  "'"' 

amusement    Of  fh.«!rS^'  Z  °^  ^^°^  expensive 
St.  S«^an\,f  i  latter  there  are  few  enough  at 

Kke  f!r^.L^.^1^*^.^^_^^^«  ^-ious  visitoiB  there^who 
«!■.».»     "  •'  ""  "^^  FoouxianueH  about  the  aitfl  of  ihtii^. 

m  (L  „„n.ber  was  one  I  Xlr^!.  Sj^oJl^ 


21 


UWTORIOAL  NOTICE  or  TH« 


IHii  f 


derful  efferts  whf^^iS  been  ^"*^r^  i""*  ^o^' 
ttmongst  their  poor   ^  „^f  2>.  ™°»ght   by   them 
'>   these  W,  -nW^^S^^«»  "S^p^ty  of 
great  mercy  He  had  showTSm^  t2  ^^f?"-  the 
day8:-aU  this  touched  S  a  Z,f  ^**  ""^'^  "a^ 

oraf^hSS^«-o 

^f^^ieTjSESl-- 
,  not  umnediatelv  be  snro^i  .iT     1     ""^  ^"^ra  oonld 

»  "ot^least  tte  dXof  et^  r^*?ir''«''''  ?«' '"^ 
*»w  them  to  the  s;^t  i^  ZI  WX*  ^  *^  """J 
"Side,  that  the  poor  miffht^^^t  V.  i?^°'  happen  to 
«>d  the  whole  town^teS,%'*r^*'«^ 
•  poor  young  lady  do  mKT «  uw?"'  ''^*'  <=»» 
"edit  and  few  rflqnnr,.L  T  »  i       *  "'"«  amount  erf 

thing.  p^vidl/Srshe  Ts^J"^:^'  ^0^- 
^nstancy,  and  has  m  enti^  ^jf  '"*!  mdomitable 
He  alone,  can  do  M^J^^^^^^^^^  ?°*  a^-l 

^ect  the  oveSe:'wth*:^e"ml^  to  f^  f"^  ""' 
to  the  city  of  Tours  •  th»v  .T  „  *°  *«">  *«  "ome 

"oaung  Sore  tCth^*i:^''l"lTf  ^^  ?».  "^ting 
«nd  Dinan,  namely:  a  roof  to  ^1''^^?^  **  ^«m4 
•™val,  .md  hbert/to  Jho  worl    *''  *^*"'  »"  *^«" 

it  I'Cnof S^"a^Ul-;fJ™t,  "'°.  •"'-•'^-'' 
ttese  great  servants  of  the  S  ^wJ  *  '"T  .''"y^  "> 
ttie  expenses  of  their  iou^ev  »!'  Yi^annot  teU  how 
their  arrival  in  iZmTtV'^^^^'^y^^'  b"*  after 
1847,  they  had  only Tw  J^  ,T'Xf«""'  "'  Janiiarv, 

arsthiriasm°^\^lrw^l'^^„°".^-f  ^h^y' 
awuuii  a  aozen  poor  Deonlfl.  «# —  "I-^  ""^^^  receive 
»d   finally,   in^  F^^;  fal^^"  "^^^  »-; 


MTTLB  SISTERS  OF  THE  POOR.  25 

ooUectedlTT*?r       '        woken  victuals  every  day 

present,  in  aU  their  h,^«t       ^'i?  resource.    At 

yield  a  refr^ZTdr^^'^fT^^""*^  "»  "^d*  t<> 
these  poor  oldZ^No^^ "* ,?  great  comfort  to 

g;ej^  -^e«dtat>rnr^ciS 

little  nXlTadd^  t?  f?f^  ^^"^  "T*-    "Wien  » 

ooffee-gTounde  md  th^^l^  "Z^*  *~"»  ^^ 
aU  qn^raSd  r«nt^  S^'*'  °'.'"^e»d,  gathered  from 

fiwt  is  proTidad  t   n„^  *      tne  table,  behold,  a  break- 
PoorolSpZSe  ar?tti»'l'?'  »?VT*°  *^««  ^^^ 

&™Tbx!Sth?£S^^a^ 

remained  qnite  aZeto  t^t^Z" ""  •^^'^'  1847, 
during  that  time  ^rteok^L^^T''*^^'  *"<*  ?«* 
PoorSid  womT^     ^         ™  ^^  «^™  *»  eighteen 

to  We*  tf  Sttfi^'S"''  ^""^  ^.'-  Siate..  had 
inft.  to  tead,  anT„„,,?.'x!;°^'"  "»  ™;ng  and  dress- 

to-maintain"a  constant; tocSXror^^li^  "■"* 


m 


I! 


II 


26 


HISTOWOAL  NOWOa  OF  TBS 


Sister  mdM^ed^TrtaS^te^fr  ""If",  '^f''^ 

Mother  Superior  orthe  Fanh™,^  sf^*  ^°'"'*' 
weU   known  in  Paris  ^d  Z,»^  ^^  {*^"^''  ^ 

kaown  and  well  bew4d  ?  Lyons^  M.  '^•,1"  T^ 
never  recovererl  fr,.r«T      ^^?  ^*^  ^^^^^^ilies,    las 

restore,  althoufth  shTstl  n.t;  which  nothing  c^ 

God  and  His  pW  N  ""St  T"^""  "^T""  °^ 
eiForts  were  not  MnZ7T,,;  '*.?^  superhuman 
of  the  three  laborer  k^,!"'""*  ""^  ^^^  ^^<"^tr 
forth  on  theiTqrst  for^i!r7"'<'™i»g  *«?«<'* 
each  arm  a  We  H„  „?i       ''*"  ™tuals,  carrying  on 

into  « W^omp Jtme^L'^^fl^^^^^  ^"'•«'» 

^r^^miH  f -°  te^W^agS 
wome-I  Itt  i^  fh™"*  amongst  these  poSr  oil 
wetcheanels  of^wi  r"""^'   °'- 'S"   heartrending 

infr  vv«vo   „+  ^gnity-     oouls  in  that  poor  dwell- 

ju  tleir  loort  Z  poor  wtd^^^Tch'SS'^^  °™ 
the  persons  of  their  Sisters     »nrl  ^^f?  ^^  "» 

more  sweet  and  t^^S^thZfh^?^  '^"''^  ^ 
thgse  poor  and  W^y  h°l^^"at'tt:"tZiTa,ri 

they  handled!^  U  w^.  t^L^TsnX^  ^/ 


rength.    Of  the 
bouse  at  Tours, 
om  the  fatigues 
Marie  Louise, 
Si  Jacques,  so 
to  be  as  well 
Marseilles,  jias 
>f  that  period, 
h  nothing  can 
3tive  service  of 
Je  superhuman 
9  glad  serenity 
niiug  they  set 
Is,  carrying  on 
being  divided 
the  scraps  of 
her  fragments 
away.     When 
ctivifcy  that  it 
firm  a  family 
11  imaginable 
>se   poor   old 
heartrending 
ities,  and  the 
diseased  old 
>f  happiness, 
t  poor  dwell- 
fiey  saw  and 
erenced  Him 
shed  Him  in 
ng  could  be 
pourings  of 
onsoled,  and 
or  were  the 
t^ay  by  day 
i  the  good- 
mts' defined 

id  indispen- 
mperfluous. 


IJ^Mt  SISPEBS  OP  THE  POOB.'  27 

^""osriitti?^^  •  ""i^^'^S  it."  Besides,  they  enjoyed 

neither  Mgue  nof  CiST""™*""^  '^^.i^^"^ 
Marie  LouiS,,  of  whoT  we  ennlT^'  f  "^  ^"^^ 
flints  of  comDlau,Tn»?i..Tl  ^^,}?^  »°w.  "«▼» 

to  the  same,  or  e^T^ZfT"  ^.^'^^^  reduced 
regardless  of  fteJTu^e^ '  T?f  fe"^  J""'  1 

and  Sl":^^L^3^S^,^:-°'4t^n5 
companion,  still  her  chief  ^asSSfjIoft^rl^ 

mS  ^Ihl',,^  T"''    C-  the  Wed  S^ 
aTii^i-^  tis^S^rren7to*&t^,%- 

Th!^5f  "^,"1^  .should  be  the  will  of  God.     ^ 

spe'cial  Wpfif '^*;^  "^^  ^^^^  ^^*«^  ^^e  for  the 
2?^^f_benefit  of  ihe  poor,  are  generally  successful! 


28 


HISTOBIOAL  NOMOK  OF  THB 


t;  ■■ 


11  ! 


Ilii; 


Adfifled  by  the  sSerS  ZZy  t^J^  ?  ^"^^ 
poor  creatures  under  theirTrT^'^-  Pf^^  *°'"  *^^ 
wants,  overcoming^  Mte.nCT^*1?^8  '°  ^"-^^ 
Mes,  and endurin/natirr^f"?^'**  *'^^  ^^   "i- 

F  W  rebuffs  to  be  end  red  s™?"",  "»'  *•««'  K 
■■  is  to  see  so  ma^H  ,aera  b^nttT'^r?'"""^'  » 
n  1st  not  be  foreotteD  ,f  th  *     ^^f,  ?"<*  'o  G"''.  >* 

ore  not,  any  more  than  ^tf^l     f   ™  ^'^^e  Sisters 

oftei.mFrii«iSnr^,w  "*  ^l^ngerB  to  what  is 

»tion  andT  ^^T^r^™^^  ^t^""'  t  -^- 

glones hare  doni  thiir  wo^S thTA^.^^^  ""^ 

radation  to  which  theseToorTelh^l  ?"^'  "^  ?«e- 

felse  aoid  matorialistio  pCnhvlnS     ^^1  x^"«*'  » 

draw  from  these  poor  SIS^T  l"^  ^"^"^  *^  ^f"- 

«nce  to  their  S^  to^tvd  J?^  ^«<*  "^-i  hi>«l«r- 

which  is  most  grievous  IdJ^T^  tte  brutes.    That 

«««atures,  is  t^S^l  P"?^7*  ™  *"»«*  wretched 

"ouls.      Le?^  howe^te'^^/''«rt*!°"  »'  *heir 

of  ignorance     It  eSSL  !i„^  understood  in  speaking 

of  &  S  sSe^^^*'  "^  *"?'  ^  the'^hoS 

series  of  philosonhv  bS;>»  •        .      '^^  *^e  whole 

,  century.  JdwKt  fteT^ JS-  ""*   eighteenth 

whotSe  cweTil .  ^t,!T'*5°"  of  the  Sisters 

thelucubiationsofZodrm  t.ml"'^"'  '?^"  '^th 
the  Messiah  and  a  reSn^^**^  f  ?""«  Awards 

third,  and  not  the  lea^Sbl^a^'o^ilfr'^^''-     ^ 
m  poetry,  and  quotes  coSS^&'^^  "f^^ 

\t^I  ^  '"^  Horace  <mTfi,^^f'f/°"tr®' 
a  htUe  demented  but  t.n-.      n^^, ,  "e  is,  perhaps, 

inind,  tnoZglistt^d,  5;.^^«^^  »  cultiva&d 
•oaiTow  on  t£^?r..!!.""'*.°*  iis  God  as  does  the 

Hon.  is  a  wonWpi;^Tf  le  J^?T'  "^  '*"  '^^"^ 
e.p«dany  in  thl-^nei^Oi^- «'--'^7~^ 


WTTLB  SISTERS  OF  THE  POOB.  J* 

is  110  other  god.     He  a  so^?.!;  ^°^  ^^'^^««  ^'"^  ^here 
he  asks  no  tedious  It  bin  ^^'''T"^^^^^^^^ 
unbridled  license  to  7hl7    P'  ^•''^  ^'^^^''^  "^e"  to  give 
and  their  Sbase^Tt '?' W^^  ''  '""f'  ^''^''^^^> 
called  civilization  anrprot^^^^^  ^  1«°3^  ^hat  so^ 

bringing  about  these  Shp^f^ivo*^^^" '*^*''^° 
Sisters  have  a  hard  strT^l  •  '^^i'^'^  '^^^  ^«tle 
these  degmded  creatures  S^r  "^^«^r?""g  to  mise 
which  thiy  may  be  caL  ^  a  reasonable  level,  from 

serving  God.    ^SomeS    thev   h'^'^^'J^"^'^^'  ^^^ 
tempted  to  despair-  oE  int^}^^^   ^^®°   ^^«>ost 

or  making  esLs' t^r^'V^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
pecially,  which  is  the  faiW  t\ J     '"~^''"°''®°"®ss  es- 
called  on  to  resist     fh!S^  *^f^  ^^®  "^^st  frequently 
beaten.    But  thfs  tiev  L  "?  ^^-''^^  ^'"  "«^^'  ^"^  even 
for,  to  thesrco"aid\I?  ''"^^^^  ^^  ^  happiness; 

aspect  completeTtHvefehrr^i- ^     .' '^^«  ^^ 
sees  and  judffes     Thll^'   ^*°*'  ^^*°*i  the  world 

crashing  the  instincts  of  mCJlrl  ,^^  ""''  "^ 
ever  ajd  however  suffering  .LI"'*'.*""'**'  "^en- 
th«y  are  certain  to  be  weko^H  »  J*"!.?  ""^^  »"^«. 
joy-  Possibly  fat  wTt  »  ij  ^  *  '''«'»"'g  and  i 
there  may  enter  a  iS  .  i  ?'?  "^"""^t  seem  t5  be  so) 
snbmissio'^!  for  i?  ^"'^<'»i™'!'«?r /"to  ^^'^  P™fo™d 

them  by  daUy  e^pSce  fhS'  "^"^  P^^^d  an'ongst 
offered  on  Uiei^  part  thirl  w  "  ""*'' »  '"""'Aoe 
before  it  is  accomplXd  recompensed  even 

in  ford?„X''Sse''a7Tr„''  ^'  ^  "«  «-<=»•""«-«« 
short  time^tie  thr^^l^"S/  "^""^  ""«-  ''"^  » 
?"  which  to  sleep  In  I'!"!'"'  <""?  *"»  straw  beds 
hospitality,  if  a  poor  nniS;^  ."^™  T'''  '"«''•  ''O"  of 
there  is  no  bed  tSreceK  ^P''*'  *""  admission,  and 
JP  hers  to  t^e  ^tmnZ  i^'  T  ?i  '"?  ^'''*"  ^im 


so 


mSTOBIOAL  NOTIOE  GW  THB 


in  fact,  such  as  wotdd  bd  coveted  even  by  the  poorest^ 
oonmsting,  in  every  weather,  merely  of  a  paiU^sae;  for 
•o  the  spirit  of  poverty  and  mortification  requii'e&  It 
60  happened,  then,  as  we  have  said  just  now,  that  the 
three  Sisters  at  Tours,  having  already  taken  in  seven 
poor  old  women,  had  but  two  straw  beds  left  for  their 
own  accommodation;  and  these  they  laid  dose  together 
at  ni^ht,  so  as  to  provide  a  sufficient  resting-place  for 
the  three.  One  single  sheet  was  all  they  possessed  for 
the  further  comfort  of  this  common  bed.  An  eighth 
old  woman  makes  her  appearance;  she  was  provided 
with  a  bed,  but  sheets  she  had  none.  "  My  diildren," 
«aid  the  Superior  to  her  two  daughters,  "  we  must  cut 
our  sheet  in  half  for  this  poor  woman  God  hath  sent 
us,'  and  we  must  manage  as  we  can."  No  sooner  said 
than  done;  two  Sisters  held  the  sheet  outspread,  the 
third  held  the  scissors  in  the  act  to  cut,  when  a  faiock 
came  at  the  door,  and,  on  its  being  opened,  a  young 
man  presented  himself  with  an  offering  of  six  pairs  of 
sheets.  When  the  Sister  who  had  opened  the  door 
showed  these  to  her  companions,  they  all  three  fell 
weeping  on  their  knees,  and  thanked  Gk>d.  This  ia 
one  instance,  out  of  thousands  we  might  cite,  as  hap- 

Sening  in  each  ond  of  their  houses,  to  show  the  provi- 
ence  and  goodness  of  God. 

Sometimes  the  wonders  He  works  in  their  behalf 
are  manifested  in  another  form,  before  which  the  Sis- 
ters are  silent  in  admiring  giatitude.  Some  one  gave 
them,  on  their  first  arrival  in  Tours,  a  small  cast-iron 
kettle,  hardly  large  enough  to  make  soup  m  for  the 
Sisters  and  tiie  first  eight  or  ten  old  pensioners.  The 
household  increased;  though  the  kettte  maintained  its 
original  dimensions,  nevertheless,  it  still  sufficed  aa 
heretofore.  During  many  weeks  enough  soup  for  fif- 
teen, twenty,  and  tmrty  poor  people,  was  daily  poured 
out  from  the  same  little  kettle.  Nor  let  this  fact  seem 
incredible — ^all  those  we  have  related  from  the  begin- 
ning of  this  account  are  of  the  same  nature;  nor  if 
there  anything  more  wonderful  in  the  increase  of  soup 
which  took  pmce  in  the  kettle  of  the  poor,  than  in  the 


UTTLB  aOBTKBS  OP  THS  POCMU 


81 


en  by  the  poorest^ 
of  a  paiUaaae;  for 
aiion  requirea  It 
just  now,  that  the 
idy  taken  in  seTen 
beds  left  for  their 
laid  dose  together 
fc  resting-place  for 
they  possessed  for 
L  bed.  An  eighth 
she  was  provided 
.  "My  children," 
lers,  "  we  must  cut 
Em  God  hath  sent 
"  No  sooner  said 
Bet  outspread,  the 
3ut,  when  a  knock 
'  opened,  a  young 
ingof  sixpaurs  of 
opened  the  door 
they  all  three  fell 
:ed  GK>d.  This  is 
light  cite,  as  hap- 
to  show  the  provi- 

b9  in  their  behalf 
Dre  which  the  Sis- 
Some  one  gave 

a  small  cast-iron 
d  soup  in  for  the 

pensioners.  The 
ttle  maintained  its 
t  still  sufficed  aa 
ough  soup  for  fif- 
,  was  daily  poured 
*  let  this  fact  seem 
I  from  the  begin- 
ne  nature;  nor  is 
e  increase  of  soup 

poor,  than  in  the 


multiplication  within  the  Sisters'  hands  erf  all  the  otim* 
resources  of  which  they  had  need*    "^  ^  *"  ^®  ^®» 
Xt  was  from  Tours  that  the  work  of  the  Little  Sis- 
ters was  to  enlai-ge  its  borders.    TheCTrnWrne^ 
Wer  was  penmtted  by  God  to  contribute  toS 
tins  m  some  degree.    On  the  occasion  of  the  debate 
whidi  <«ok  place  in  the  National  AssemWy  on  ^e 
ngit  to  rehef,  amiounced  in  ike  preamblTof  the  Con! 
Btitutibn  of  1848,  the  UnioerB  h^  some  ^les  on 
^e  subject,  and  related  what  had  been  donTS  To™ 
StServan,  Kennes,  and  Dinan.    The  dedmW  of  ^ 
ABsembly  were  not  exactiy  influenced  by  tMTreport 
such  an  honor  could  not  have  been  exacted;  but  a 
^L^?^^  T""  ^  ^^  little^iS  from 

B^^v^SS^  °*  ^'^^'  ^«  ^^'^  Sisters  from 
^nttany  and  Tourame,  they  were  chiefly  poor  seiurj- 
s^resses  without  much  moiey.  and  only^aSor  to 
love  and  serve  God.    The  Sisterhood  being^  mu^ 

S^ V^'\^^""^5*  "^  ^'^--^V^^  new  ifborsHLl 
b«S  of  5.  "'^i*  foundati  m  in  Paris.  The  iem- 
bers  of  the  St.  Vmcent  of  Paul  Conferences  Ca 
™^y  taken  up  the  idea;  and,  a.  welTw  o^ 
caaion  to  remark,  this  waa  not  the  only  time  that 
^LS    ^''^'^'  interested  themselves  foi  the  lS 

andM^K*  ^®  spring  of  1849,  the  Mother  General 
^d  Mother  Mane  Louise  arrived  in  Paris.  A  chari- 
table  mstitution,-~the  House  of  Naza^eth,-a8  p^r 

m  two  Breton  Sisters  were  neither  perplexed  nor 
^^ayed  by  the  task  before  tiiem.  TheyT^  qS 
8farangers  m  Paris,  and  had  never  imagined  a  city  g^ 

l^^Z  f^'f  ^'^  ^  "^^^  therthre^K 
E?^^  ""^  streets  in  quest  of  a  house  te  suit  them, 
^y  had  some  tijouble  in  finding  what  they  wanf^Z! 
a  »age,  any,  and  cheap-rented  house,  in  a  nmsi^-  ™wi» 
^oid  off^  some  hope  of  the  neoess^  reso^a 


agreeing  for  it;  but' unexpected  difficidties^ 


arose. 


3S 


■moBiGAL  vfoncm  or  no 


ii 


m 


jmd  one  delay  after  another  succeeded.    NeyerthA 

Dread.    Some  good  Nuns  of  the  Visitation.  fai^J 
to  the  spmt  of  St.  Francis  of  Sales   wnt* t^fiS^ 
s^angers  some  food  from  their  con^n  .    ^he^  ch^^ 
teble  souls  anxious  to  contribute  to  the  new^^del^ 
ing,  come  foward  with  alma      Buf    in  c^ul^y  i 
God  permitted  the  Little  S^^T  ^  ^Lh  ^Sl 
same  mortification  atttendant  on  begg^^^^l  th^! 
had  experienced  at  St.  Servan.     l^'^Toft^n 
forced  to  go  to  the  Sisters  of  Charity's  Lp!£tch^^ 
and  exchange,  like  other  mendicaSra^Xt  w^^^ 
tebj'  two  cents,  ior  a  portion  of^s^up  a^*^  TJ^ 

It  woiild  not  do  to  estimate  the  virtue  of  men  ««- 
cor^g  to  the  price  they  pay  for  ^  dkmeT^ 
yet  we  m^y  imagine  that  it  is  not  tiie  creZVuic^u 
who  visit  these  kitehens  for  a  dinner  of  haricote  ^I 
potatoes.  Some  of  the  respectable  pLgXTe-^d 
^ese,  as  soon  as   tiiey  hTve  received  L^%oi^l 

W?  ^^^  ""^  ^*  ^^'^^  «^d  share  it^SitteS 
ft^es.  Others,  settling  themselves  dow  in  <Sf 
^eet  or  court-yard,  eat  their  portion  on^e  sd^^ 
^•u  ^"^  f  ^i^^^y  ^«*«*^«d  old  people,  or  S^eS 

2^^;i^'  drunkards,  given  up  to  aU  manner  of 
Si  18^  th!?l^  ^^'r^^  *°  any'means  for  a  IMng. 
ii'nT^^  population  presented  peculiar  characte?! 
wh(«.  Therewas  great  destitution  tiieninXdW- 
work  wa«  scarce  and  great  excitement  preva^ed.    It 

ttt^  °-.'?S'^  "^""?  "^^^  ^«  ^^^  g«SS  round 
these  (^antable  soup-kitehens,  men  ii  the^mn? 

Sdsf^  ?l.  V^aginable  rags,  yet  preser^^'til 
midst  of  their  poverty  the  remains  of  a  certein  ease 
of  manners,  which  showed  them  to  be  pVS  X 
had  been  a^^ustomed  to  earn  abundanc^^^thTow 
rt  away,  when  earned,  in  dissipation  and  ext^vagaS^ 
They  had  often  an  expression  of  mmWi  £IvS^^ 
m  their  countenances,  ind  altogetheJlh^y  fo4"eTb1 
no  means  a  pleasant  company.    The  l/tun^^ 


UTTLE  SISTERS   OP  THE   POOB. 


88 


unknown  and  buried  in  the  midst  of  ihk  stranee 
crowd,  waited  their  turn  with  the  others,  handinTtSS 
bj«m8  to  the  Lttle  wicket,  and  then  c^nyi^K 
the  cost  of  one  or  two  cents,  the  dinner  of  the  whcJ^ 

Weeks  and  months  thus  passed  away.  Notwith- 
jjandmg  the  m^enes  of  this  wretched  sort  of  iSTWd 
the  wearmess  of  this  protracted  waiting,  which  seemed 

rfamed  of  nothing  and  only  regretted  the  separatoi 
from  their  compamons,  the  loss  of  their  beloved  e^r 
^es  m  community,  and,  above  aU,  their  absence  from 
then-  dear  old  people.    They  persevered  in  their  d^ 
termmation  to  take  root  in  Paris.     Thev  m-Pfir.fl^ 
crosses  humihations,  and,  so  to  speak,  the  forffS 
ness  of  Divine  Providence,  for  no  propitious  S^^ 
stence  arose  to  draw  them  out  of  WdiCSl 
which  they  were  sunk;  they  offered  up  eveiS  S 
f^^d         '  advantage  of  tiie  house  they  Sd  to 

The  Mol^er  General,  however,  being  caUed  else- 
where  by  the  necessities  of  the  Con^egatiW  feft 
Mother  Marie  Louise  to  tiie  task  of  p^rS  to  ite 
dose  an  affair  which  seemed  intermiSTji^  ^t 
that  time  the  cholera  began  to  rage  ^  PariT  fn 
oi-der  to  employ  her  idle  tLe  to  som^e  good^^oi^ 
Mo  her  Mane  Louise  set  to  work  to  nSrse  C^; 
cholera  patients.  She  was  herself  attacked  by^ 
temble  scourge,  and  her  already  broken  health  yZ 

W&^'ir^w-"^-  ^^fi^«  long  months  of  w^^ 
mg  and  of  privations,  she  found  at  last,  in  the  stre^ 
of  St.  Jacques,  at  No.  277  the  house  of  which  Zt 
now  Superior,  and  which,  after  being  many  tim^ 

p^opff  '  '"''"'  '^''^'^  "'^"^  *^  two  hundJed  old 

fl,7^^^.°'''°^  ^^T"^^®  ^^  undergone  at  Paris  in 
the  foundation  of  a  houap.  imnihar  ^oo  ;^  .^..__    ™ 

estabhsbnent  at  Nantos."'  Father  heFm^^h^ 

been  mvited  to  go  tiiere  by  the  members  of  Zco^ 

ferences  of  St.  Vincent  of  Paul.    They  s^on^^ee^ 


i 

i|:;|:  y 

i 

III 


iiMii 


84 


mSTOBIOAL  MOnCB  OV  THZB 


about  the  matter;  the  Conferences  promisedkeir  aid- 
the  good  foUier  intrusted  to  his  daughters,  or  rather 
to  Divine  Providence,  the  care  of  providing  for  all  the 
wants  of  the  estabhshment.    It  would  have  been  dif- 
hcult  to  object  to  such  conditions.    But,  before  be- 
gnning  ^e  undertaking,  the  good  father  required 
a       ^®  Capitulary  Vicars  should  authorize  it/   The 
See  of  Nantes  was  then  vacant,  and  the  Little  Sisters 
never  estabhshed  themselves  anywhere  without  the 
approbafaon  of  the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  and  tie  con- 
sent of  the  parish  priest    Some  delay  occiin itit"  in  the 
Capitidaiy  Vicars'  reply,  M.  Le  Pailleur  was  forced  to 
leave  JNantes  before  it  arrived. 

Tir^^^®?^^^*^®^  ^^®  Th^r6se,  the  chief  assistant  of 
./lother  General,  with  one  companion,  there,  and  «?ave 
hor  twenty  francs,  saying:  "God  bless  you,  my  cfildT 
Open  a  house;  I  shaU  be  back  agam  in  three  months, 
and  I  diaU  expect  to  find  you  s^irrounded  by  raanv 
poor  oH  people,  and  with  a  Httle  room  to  spare  for 
T'  '    B?  .^*^®  sum  and  this  httle  counsel  Mother 
Mane  Th6r6se  received  from  the  good  father  with 
his  blessmg.     She  had  to  wait  twenty  days  for  the 
answer  from  the  Capitulary  Vicars,  and  was  almost 
at  her  wits'  end,  having,  poor  thing,  only  foui-  francs 
left.     Havmg  ah-eady  found  a  suitable  house,   she 
hastened  to  engage  it,  that  they  might  set  to  work  as 
soon  as  possible.     The  owner  asked  her,  on  her  ar- 
rival, where  was  her  furniture.     She  had  hterally 
nothing  beyond  a  little  straw,  which  she  had  just 
bought  as  a  bed  for  herself  and  her  companion.     The 
landlord  was  doubtless  a  good  Christian;  for  he  put 
ms  trust  in  God,  and  gave  himself  no  concern  about 
the  security  of  his  reni    The  good  Sisters  made  haste 
to  go  and  seek  for  the  poor.  ...  At  the  end  of  three 
months  Father  Le  Pailleur  returned.    He  found  the 
house  m  full  operation,  and  fully  «upphed  with  all 
tiiat  was  needful    The  sympathy  of  the  town  had 
been  aroused  in  its  behalf  and  fortv  old  neoole  hoA 
been  taken  in.    The  good  father  preached  Ithem  a 
little  retreat,  a  large  proportion  of  tiiem  were  recon- 


Qtk  were  recon- 


"ITLE   SISTERS   OP   THE   POOB.  35 

was  a  little  Cham  Win  thff  ^°  forgotten.    There 
use,  so  watSv  L  l^ti^""^  appropriated  to  hi. 

begged  the  -«:Swomen*^UXtveT^i  "l^ 
give  her  something  for  her  nnnr  ^a  ?    ^°^  *^ 

aU  ^y  heart!"  ex^Sed  tE:°L^te^''to  wT*^ 
she  spoke, — "with  all  mvl.o<»t.»^  "oman  to  whom 
hand'is  so  trulTgo^r^  «^;  tt^-^J^  ^°^  ''"»  ^ 
said  the  next,  "F^hen  I^  ^^^l"?/  S'«'«^'" 
come  into  yoArhouLe^'  A^dXof '  L^n'Ti  '^ 
««ls  with  their  contribX^Zd  ttf  Sl*^"' 

^en  from  her  brtbMl'St  women""..?oriJ^ 

I  H^n^^^Tv  e^«  ^^  j/4tef 
«ddinft  "and  ^tor^'-^^'^^y  '^  Saturday, 

I  N»tera'X.5*'w;as^t1S.t*'"^-«'' «»  Paris  and     ' 
farther  end  omraT™     S^^^  "*  Besan^on,  at  the 
thia     rchlSr«ifSlf'y°'"*®'^<y'^der8d 

they  found  a  house  aningedCd  wfC^^r"!**^ 
nothmg  to  do  but  to  reofflVtte  po^  ^4?2'L'^ 

te°bo'^L'^r:je^''?J™.  t^'rcond^'a^^S'S 

iaa  rather  monopolized  the  delirfiHW^  Th^rtee, 

l^ffering.  ^,^y  ^attached  to  Sw  ^^^^t »' 

J  jiuoses,  and  t*at  they  themaelvea  ^^Tt,^*",!'"  ."'^"' 

Wg  nottingof  t£e  so^rth^^h    °^**  ^ 

bahon  of  Mgr.  the  Archbishof  oTa^on^^PS 


86 


msTOBiOAL  voncni  OF  thx 


l;li 


1 

1 

1 

1 

I 

Sven  from  the  beffinning.  At  the  first  riait  they  paid 
m,  the  good  prelate  emptied  hia  purse  into  the  little 
Sisters'  hands:  truth  compels  us  to  add,  that  this 
purse  onljr  contained  four  nve-cent  pieces:  it  was  all 
the  archbishop  had.  This  Uttle  sum  he  placed  before 
the  image  of  the  Blessed  Virgin;  and,  kneeling  with 
the  Little  Sisters,  he  sent  up  a  prayer  for  them  to  the 
Comforter  of  the  afflicted.  He  also  bade  them  call 
twice  a  week  for  the  fragments  from  his  frugal  table, 
and,  some  days  after,  sent  a  large  donation. 

In  1850,  houses  were  founded  at  Angers,  Bordeaux, 
Nancy,  and  Rouen.      We  will  not  enter  into   the 
details  of  all  these  several  foundationa     The  story  is 
always  the  same.     At  Anders  the  Sisters  took  posses- 
sion of  an  old  chapel,  which  the  priest;  of  the  Church 
of  ttie  Trinity,  the  Key.  Mr.  Maupoint,  now  Bishop 
of  Bourbon  Island,  had  placed  at  their   disposal 
Tliere  was  no  yard;  a  mere  paper  screen  separated 
the  dormitory  of  the  poor  from  the  Little  Sisters' 
room.    "When  one  of  the  old  women  chanced  to  die, 
the  Little  Sisters  had  the  corpse  carried  into  their 
room,  that  the  other  poor  creatures  might  be  spared 
the    painful  sight;    and   there  they   shrouded    and 
watched  beside  it  during  the  night.    In  this  chapel, 
behind  this  very  paper  screen,  died  the  good  Sister 
F^dt^,  of  whom  we  have  afready  spoken.     She  died 
in  the  midst  of  her  poor  pensioners,  like  a  soldier  on 
the  field  of  battle.    It  is  needless  to  say  how  deeply 
the  town    of  Angers  venerates  her  memory.     We 
have  seen  her  at  the  foundation  of  the  house  at  Tours 
where  she,  in  fact,  sacrificed  her  life.    Her  zeal  was* 
tf  possible,  surpassed  by  her  humility  and  modesty! 
It  is  difficult  to  speak  of  her  virtues  as  they  deserve; 
but  we  are  at  least  certain  that  they  cannot  be  too 
highly  esteemed.     From  the  very  beginning  of  the 
Institute  the  Little  Sisters  were  in  the  habit  of  pray- 
ing, and  saying  with  their  old  people  an  Our  Father 
and  a  HaU  Mary  every  day  for  that  Sister  who  should 
oie  the  first.    Mother  F^iicita  is  the  favored  one  who 
hae  laid  daim  to  aU  these  pious  prayers.    Her  veiy 


UTrus  swma  of  the  poor.  3,^ 

•n^;tri:reJ^4:^^^  -^-^^^  ^-  -  predestined  to 

these  houses  of  whiph^  ^  ^  *^®  foundation  of  aU 
give  the  Si^  in  <5^tl  l,r  w^  !!?>  *«  ^^  «We  to 
terizesthe  wo?k  of  ft^Se  st^'''*''^"'^^  ^ 
path V.    The  mite  of  the  poor  f^^^^^^^^         ^^^^  «7^- 
hands,  under  the  n3  ^^„-       ^°,^^^^®»*»  "ito  their 

mat  Ve  have  ^dTustnoraS^^^^^^^  ^-^« 

at  Nantes,  takes  place  ^d^r^^ff  ^^°'^''^^*-™«eIi 
almost  everywhere  At  Bm!l  ^^T^  ^n^odifications 
pocershavYSsplayedan^^^^^  the  butchers  and 
At  St  Servan,  th^^worfanl?  1^'"^^^^ 
helping,  as  we  have  S^fT.  7%  ""^^  «^*^e<i  wi4 
buiidSg.      mre  ^e^l«!??^  ^\^  *»^«  labors  of 

ment  to  neariy  five  hn^^'*  ''^^^^  ^^^s  employ- 
order  to  teke  somrsharptr  l""??-  ^««e  °^ei>  m 
Little  Sisters,  Ce  xld^^Jen  tot^'^  ^°^^  ^'  *h« 
the  sum  of  one  cent  eS^weeidv.  tn^^^"^  ^^^"^ 
^e  anjount  is  carried  t^J^yhL  for  f r^^  ^^^^^ 
^en  there  are  soldiei-s  whn^i  ^  *^®  ^^^  P^^r. 
of  their  soup,  and  wlTi^?,  will  spare  some  portions 

t^e  begging^Xnl  ^e^Ze  2^1*"  **^%r  °' 
teve  to  contribute  largdy  w  .^^  *^,7  ^  ««°- 
bread,  aod  give  it  in  fllm«  iJ  +?  *^*'"'  aUowance  of 
char^cterislSofp^p^^^Pooroldp^^^^^^^    This 

more  at  Bordeaui  S  RnSt*^^  manifested  itself 
fact,  it  took  the  tonT  of  no«1?  **^  ^^T^^ere  else;  in 
two  places.  ^  P^**'^®  enthusiasm  in  these 

4  St^  WZt^^^^^  1^  *^  -«-^-  of  his 
bis  neighboi,  and  do  .S^?  of  all  that  can  benefit 
desire  to  inducrtheLiiS^iJ^  ^^^r'  ^"^*  ^  ^^ent 
,  «ie  latter  town  He  h^ft,i?^'^  *^  /^^^^  *  ^^use  in 
their  Institute,  dSL^  a  Z!^  appreciated  tiie  spirit  of 

\nf  *u^: ^"r;'. 'f '^^^g  a  visit  which  llA  hnA  ^«;j  X-  - 

««i»%  SisteiTWeLfilr"'*^.*?  "^  <*»*  these 
wo.*  in  Bouen.  ^  o7r4MetiX\T4* 


ill 


"'Niliili 


88 


HIErTOBIOil.  MOnOB  OF  Tm. 


f 

abounds  there,  and  still  more  on  account  of  the  power 
of  their  example:  a  form  of  preadiing  which  is  every- 
where so  full  of  virtue.    While  he  thought  on  this 
desire  so  dear  to  his  heart,  two  Little  Sisters  came  to 
Rouen— not,  however,  with  any  intention  of  fotmding 
a  house,  but  simply  on  a  begging  expedition.    They 
were  directed  to  the  archbishop's  secretary,  and  to  the 
members  of  St  Vincent  of  Paul's  Conferences,  that 
leave  might  be  obtained  for  them  to  ask  alms  in  the 
town.    A  promise  was  given  them  that  all  interest 
should  be  used  in  their  behalf,  if  they,  on  their  part 
would  engage  not  to  leave  Rouen,  but  try  to  found  ari 
asylum  there.     The  matter  was  duly  weighed  and 
talked  over,  and  they  were  soon  able  to  write  and  tell 
the  Superior-General  that  a  house,  fit  to  begin  the 
work  in,  had  been  found.    It  was,  of  course,  iiripossible 
to  promise  success;  all  they  asked  was  to  make  the 
attempt,  and  it  was  only  prudent  to  do  so  with  all 
moderation,  and  within  du^  limits.     It  is  a  serious 
thing  to  create  in  a  city  a  new  charitable  establish- 
ment ;  and  the  supports  on  which  the  Little  Sisters 
depend  always  appear  so  frail,  that,  until  they  have 
been  tested,  it  seems  presumptuous  to  suppose  they 
will  sustain  any  pressure. 

The  good  Mother  came  to  Rouen  and  examined 
the  house,  which  was  capable  of  holding  forty  old 
people.  She  saw  also  a  large  building,  which  no  one 
had  thought  of  proposing,  and  which  would  lodge 
two  hundred  persons;  and  immediately  gave  it  as  her 
opinion  that  the  smaller  house  was  quite  insufficient, 
and  that,  in  a  great  city  like  Rouen,  the  large  building 
would  be  by  no  means  too  extensive.  In  vain  they 
reasoned  with  her,  taxed  her  with  imprudence,  and 
persuaded  her  not  to  encumber  with  the  rent  of  four 
thousand  francs  an  undertaking  in  behalf  of  which 
public  sympathy  had  not  yet  been  tested.  The  good 
Mother  let  them  talk,  and  maintained  her  first  opin- 
ion, wiie  iisd  expofience;  she  knew  how  things  had 
hitherto  gone  on,  and  was  firm  in  her  conviction  that, 
after  so  many  evidences  of  God's  great  goodness 


"TTLE  SI8TEBS   OF   THE   POOR.  39 

-^rc^ni^r^^^^^^^  njight  be, 

way.  A  fortnight  was  mil^T '  .  ^^J^t  her  have  her 
fears  for  the  fitm-e  Th «  u  ^°"^^  *°  ^^""^^  ^ 
and  it  is  imposSb^  io  rP«fr  ^'''''^  '".^^^  ^^i^^  M; 
part  which  tCpopu^^^^^^  at  the 

the  market-place,  there  wa7«^    .     ?  appeared  in 
were  known  alread v  •   .^     u  T^*  ^  *^^t-     They 

rushing  to^e^tS  ZX't.^'^^i  *^^^'  ^^^ 
"»g.  The  pohcememS^P^^^^^^^d  some  offer- 
astonished  at  this  con&S^f  o  A  ^^^P  °^^«r'  were 
of  turning  out  ttiei^noo^nr^?**  "^T  ^^  *^^«  Point 
This  mad!  the  t'tSrsKrse^'bu^^^^^^  ^*- 

bemg entered  into,  things^ we^ek«i Wo     ^^P^^^tion 

Sisters  now  make  a  regXc^Jci^fcotf^^'^^f-.  ^^« 
every  one  in  turn  is  readv  JflT    r.xi^®  market,  and 

accompanying  it  Jt^heartfelt^i^^^'**^  contribution; 
ness.     And  it  is  Sys  netd^^^  1  ^^^f^'^l  ^i°d- 

with  discretion  and  Tstle  ^or  In'''''^"!*^"  ^^**«r 
,  women  one  day  cLSed  fn  frV'  *^?  ^*^^«t- 
begging  Sister  thatZ  dfd not  J^  Superior  of  the 
as  she  did  to  others  TMnlvfTf  *2  *^^°^  «°  "^^^^ 
as  to  put  an  end  to  th«  olrf  ^^^  *°  ^«  arranged  so 
blaints  of  the  sLr  w  ^^^^^^^^  complaints.     Com- 

W  traasmirtedT  The  MavTt  "^fi?^  r"?  ^-^«--^. 
:t  was  at  Rouen,  in  consedu^^^^^^^  ^.  .1^^  ?^^*^«  listers 
^nd  of  the  great  nuXr^ff??  ""^  *^^  «^^«  «f  the  city 
asters  were^bHgedt  maL  use  Cfi.^'*  *^«  ^^*«« 
^n  ass  to  cariy^eir  su^l£«  SV  *H^«*  *^°^«'  o' 
rift,  with  aJl  his  annn?£r^^       ^®^^  ^^^^^elf  was  a 

:7g  along  the  sffiToS  way  l^Z  '^  't  f^ 
om  those  private  houses  whL^Y   •   *^®  market,  or 

-.b^s^ra:  '^srss^- ^'^L^Btifi-TSt 

-c«  >vii;n  pleasure,  the  ffood  Ds^^^la  ^.T^"  ''''^'^  '"*'« 


40 


HISTORICAL  NOTICE  OP  THE 


:!'!i":|^,M 


mm 


J 


l|llii!-  ! 


ti^eir  doors  every  day— hasten  out,  and  deposit  with 
their  own  aands  their  Httle  contributions  in  the  Sis- 
ters purse,  or  the  panniers  of  the  attendant  ass.  Nor 
are  only  provisions  placed  there:  clothes,  bundles  of 
Imen  and  sheets,  drop  sometimes  from  the  windows 
?*  *f ®  o^^s*®'s  feet-  The  ass  carries  all  home:  the 
lattle  Sisters  pray  for  the  benefactors  of  the  poor- 
and  our  good  Lord  knows  them  all.  ' 

The  streets  of  Rouen  are  narrow,  and  often  very 
crowded.    ,One  day  a  carriage  crushed  the  panniers 
of  the  poor  ass,  and  they  fell,  with  all  their  contents, 
rolhng  m  the  mud.    A  workman  happened  to  see 
the  incident,  and  hastened  to  help  the  Sister,  and 
repair  the  mishap,  as  far  as  possible.    Alas  I  in  the 
ahQck  the  panniers  had  been  broken.    They  were 
patched  up  with  strings,  though  very  unsuccessfully, 
lyid  the  workman  went  on  to  his  workshop.    There 
he  related  what  he  had  seen,  and  the  misfortune 
which  had  befallen  the  Little  Sister.    AU  his  compan- 
ions were  touched  by  the  disaster.     They  immediately 
began  to  subscribe  amongst  themselves,  and  that  very 
evenmg  carried  in  triumph  to  the  Little  Sisters  two 
'^l^panniers.    Are  not  these  charming  stories  ?  One 
of  the  principal  manufacturers  of  the  city  wrote  to 
Father  Le  PaiUeur  that  he  felt  himself  under  infinite 
obhgations  to  him.     "  Formerly,"  said  he,  «  my  work- 
men were  full  of  socialist  doctrines ;  but,  since  the 
arrival  of  the  Little  Sisters,  they  alone  have  been  the 
subject  of  discourse  in  the  workshops,— their  virtue 
their  devotedness,  their  necessities.    Nor  is  this  a 
mere  unprofitable  admiration;    it  develops  itself  in 
all  sorts  of  good  deeds,  and  in  countless  services! 
which  cannot  be  described.    For  instance,  when  their 
ehapel  was  blessed,  it  was  a  festival  for  the  whole 
^ty,  a  popular  hoUday     The  chief  benefactors  had 
been  m^ted  to  the  ceremony,  at  which  the  Arch-U 
bishop  of  Bouen  presided.     The  Mayor  and  PrefectB 
tooJc  part  in  it,  and  a  large  number  of  workmen  wer  "■ 
observed  to  be  present.    Father  Le  Pailleur  was  alsc 
there;  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  been  at  Bouen, 


« 

.1 

r 

bi 
ha 


OP  THE 

\  .   -     ■ 

•ut,  and  deposit  with 
iributions  in  the  Sis- 
I  attendant  ass.  Nor 
:  clothes,  bundles  of 
38  from  the  windows 
irries  all  home;  the 
factors  of  the  poor; 
aJl. 

row,  and  often  very 
•ushed  the  panniers 
ih  all  their  contents, 
in  happened  to  see 
elp  the  Sister,  and 
Bible.    Alas  I  in  the 
roken.     They  were 
very  unsuccessfully, 
I  workshop.     There 
md  the  misfortune 
r.    All  his  compaD- 
They  immediately 
lelves,  and  that  very 
3  Little  Sisters  two 
ming  stories  ?   One 
E  the  city  wrote  to 
aself  under  infinite 
said  he,  "  my  work- 
les ;  but,  since  the 
lone  have  been  the 
lops, — ^their  virtue, 
es.     Nor  is  this  a 
>  develops  itself  in 
countleBs  services 
istance,  when  theirj 
ival  for  the  whole! 
Bf  benefactors  had 
fc  which  the  Arch 
dayor  and  Prefect! 
:  of  workmen  wer 

B  Pailleur  was 

id  been  at  Bouen 


UTTLE  SISTERS  OF  THE  POOB. 


4i 


The  worfanen  gazed  intently  upon  him,  feelin-  now 
vu"^  f  ?-^*  admiration  ^th  which  the  hWof  hk 
children  had  mspired  them.  When  the  ceremony  was 
oyer,  they  pressed  round  him,  kissing  Ms  1311 
his  garments,  and  insisted  on  receivSgLwe^s^^ 

^\h:V^^V^  °"^^°^««  ^^-  felt  t^B  emSf* 
AS  tbe  good  father  was  expressinff  hia  DT»KtnAo T 

one  of  the  manufacturers  of  B^Zf  who^^^oJ^ 

Tery  great  generosity  towards  the  house"  tjSs  elX 

^'  fS?  !?»  f"f'''  hands  with*'!"?^  rt" 
C^«^,„and.istoyo';/arinteriPea? 

ESr5-?  ^^  -  to-i 

frye-franc  piece,  which  he  did  most  unwiSly^l 
w^th  every  mtention  not  to  part  with  it.  Bfeffie  to 
^e  house,  saw  the  Sistersf  was  astonished  at  theS 
devotedness  and  their  happiness;  saw  tiie  poor  old 
women,  and  was  touched  l^'^tJieir  iheerful  demeanor 
On  his  way  out,  he  read  over  the  htSTbox  bv  the 
door,  Blessed  by  Jesus  and  Maiy  is  tlie  hand  wWch 
drops  withm  one  penny  for  tiie  poor."  He  L^n.d 
m  his  money  without  hesitation ;  the  nextX  heTnt 

rtor^to'^lT"'  -i--.r^e  h^  tra"^  W 
M«tor  to  the  house.     He  said  once  to  the  Mother- 
See,  my  Mother,  by  the  hand  of  your  poor  C  wTll 
open  the  erato  of  ht^a^rar^  fr.^  w.^     -^^^  J^^,  ^^^  ^^^ 

i.  was  a  bad  Christian,  and  cared  nothing  for  the  Door^ 
but  now  I  love  the  poor,  and  our^Sd  God  "^^« 
lias,  in  fact^  become  a  ferment  Christ^  ^^ 


4^ 


HZBTOBIOAL  NOTIGB  OF  THB 


'!"    'f 


1   i 


i  K 


Liiiin 


This  foundation  at  Rouen,  so  quicHy  and  so  beauti- 
fully  accomplished,  and  that  at  Bordeaux,  equally 
admirable,  did  not  exhaust  the  zeal  of  the  Little  Sis- 
ters ,   in  1851  they  founded  as  many  houses  as  in 
1850.     Formerly,   in  the  beginning  of  their  labors, 
whilst  simply  following   the    invitations  of   Divine 
Providence,  they  seemed  sometunes,  as  it  were,  to  pro- 
voke them.     The  house  at  Paris,  for  instance,  which 
was  so  difficult  to  foimd,  by  no  means  triumphed  over 
every  obstacle  from  the  time  of  its  inauguration.     The 
Little  Sisters  had  great  trouble  in  maldng  themselves 
known  in  so  vast  a  city ;  aU  their  eflForts,  combined 
with  those  of  their  most  devoted  friends,  did  not  pro- 
duce much  fruit  for  a  length  of  time.    The  devil  would 
not  confess  himself  beaten  ;  he  went  on  raising  all 
sorts  of  obstacles  ;  and  at  the  end  of  several  months 
the  house  afforded  shelter  to  only  twenty  poor  old 
women.     The  resources  were  scanty,  their  hving  poor: 
It  seemed  difficult  to  push  matters.     The  good  father 
came  to  Pans;  he  had  not  been  prepared  for  the 
obstacles  which  he  found  thom  battUng  with,  and  did 
not  know  how  to  deal  with  them.    He  thought  and 
prayed,  and  took  counsel  with  God,  and  at  last  made 
up  his  mind.     "I  know  what  I  will  do,"  said  he;  "we 
will  take  in  all  the  poor  we  possibly  can."    He  desired 
^e  bupenor  to  receive  all  who  appHed  to  her;  in  I 
Mteen  days  she  took  in  thirty  poor  people.    From  that 
tame  theu-  resources  abounded  ;  the  house  maintained  I 
Itself,  and  they  soon  began  to  think  of  enlarging  it 

At  that  period  in  the  history  of  the  Little  Sisters  i 
which  we  are  now  considering,  there  was  no  longer 
Miy  need  to  make  use  of  such  holy  provocations.     On 
^e  contrary,  they  had  great  trouble  in  responding  to  I 
the  invitations  of  Providence,  and  in  making  them- ' 
selves  sufficient  for  all  the  work  that  presented  itseli 
Ihe  good  father,  beholding  so  manv  houses  spring- 
ing up  with  such  rapidity  (they  had  tounded  seven  L 
.^^^    ^„„„^^^  iiurcoivea  mat  it  would  not  do  toi 
hm-ry  things.     He  was  soUcited  on  every  side,  but 
refused  energetacally,  deferring  any  new  undertaking 


MPTM!  SISTE»S  OF  THE  I^k.  ^ 

for  eighteen  months  or  two  years.     TKo*  *• 
least,  he  thought  woulrl  hL  JJ  .    *  *™«'  »* 

sufficient  number  7sist«r«  fi^f^'T^i?  f^^^^e  a 
duties  of  so  many  houses  hJi^^'^-^  ^««W  the 
before  entering  L'  ^^^^^^^>  i*  was  onlyriffht. 

first  SisLtTfosTpo^XsXdT^^^^ 
should  have  a  little  i^Wni  *  ^^"^  ^"^  ^®^*^y  *axed. 
This  space  of  Ume  2^lm  ^o'''°T  ^^^^^e^ves. 
the  trying  of  the  Tw  S  ^T  ^dispensable  for 
rule,  and  tfaching  them  howT  ^  S^« /PJ^t  of  th^ 
and  keep  up  SesT^  Z  ^  T^''''^  themselr^s, 
care  of  ^e  MotWaJ      f^o^  the   superintending 

founder  LhiTete^'r^  ^r^%  ^^^«««  °f  «^e 
with  which  he  haTbpl  on  ^'*^^^«¥^  ^t  the  facility 
ous  foun^tions  thafw  '  *°  P"?"^^^  ^^^  *h«  ^^er^ 
whilst  pei^S??nV  fhi^^  succeeded  each  other;  and 

dencefrSie  thXJ^^Il"  °'  ^^^«  ^^S^- 
Him.    Before  sDrL^tri  ^t  ^  ^®  ^<^^^  »ot  tempt 

its  spirit,  Jd  to  take  «mf  ^^  ^^'-^^  *°  fortifying 
bers  fit  to  pre^er^  i^^^if*  he  might  form  mem- 
ardent  and  devoted  ZT^^^''^^^?  «^^<^'  ^^d  yet 
So  far  hTreasonW  ^^'P^®  ^^  ^^e  first  Mother. 
has  its  wayrofT&Jt  Io7^°5\^^*  Providen^^ 

in  coX' wt'L^i  ^?*  «P«^t  aJl'bis  time  tiU  1851 
bad  Zfdy   ovtr  ^ndT^  ^^  have  spoken^/^^^ 
-/onder  at  s^eW  in  fl    ^''  ^-T*  ^««^  ^^^  with 
ters,  subfectsSl?L7,7  ^;^«*  of  the  Little  Si^ 
vellous  aptiturLto  fot^:^*^^^^^  ^^hmar- 

observing  around  thfim^f^  beads  of  houses,  and  at 
tbem,  and  fiuTvervZ!!  ''"  ^^^ctly  fitted  to  act  with 
thought  himseTS^T^-'^?^?^^-  ^«  ^^^d  have 
had  refu8ed^ST£5rf  t^  ^  ^^  ^H  if  he 

aloud  foT^em  TndforwV^^K^t*^''  P°«*«  ^^«h  cried 

I  XT 1 ,  "^**.mi  ana  lor  which  thev  woro  oi«««^~  ^xx-  ^ 

l^xu  uuuiu  not  do  otherwisA  in  igki ""^»^j  ui,w5u. 


44 


i 


I  ! 


!i!     i 


!il 


HBTOBIOAL  NOnOE  OF  THl 


Wtly  dete^TtXep  '  '■'°°^"*'°'"  ^«  '"^  «» 

tional  Guard  of  the  inrt.  V^.®^  "  I^»™-    The  Na- 
of  the  LittJo  Siste™  to^Lte"  ^'^J'*'  ^^^  hdp 
poor  of  the  10th  a^^/i!^  »4°"V«  &••  *«  <««§ 
a  sum  of  fourteen  thoMSftt.       *  5'T<'"  °«e"d 
to  each  company  of  the  d^?"*",!^^  ^'^^  «»* 
right  of  dis^osi^g  of  two  SI""''*  "^"^l^^^^d  "»« 
or  one  hundred  fran™   .1    i°°  P»y™«nt  of  eighty 
pensioners.    ^ae^e^-wTa^^*  ^  '^«  "^^  °^t^ 
possession  of  a  Ce  W  inIZ*  «'  *°?  ""^^  *»<"' 
Not*ithstandinKtterel^Z»?    ^  ^^*  ,^"  Kegard.* 
this  mstallation  w.^  STs^r'^'*^''  beforehand, 
preceded  it.    Two  ai»t«^  „       P°°T  "«  *"?  that  had 
to  dean  the  pC  up  fo^aT/  ^'^.^  *«  "">"'i°g 
just  left  it.    Col^r  o^llT!-  ^^'i^''^  ^^  ^i 
had  been  one  of  thf^^f  ,     National  Guard,  who 
them  there"  nlhei^  CrTLT^'f  T  *''«  '*»^'  °^' 
them  deaninjr-  a^  to^^'  ^    f '  *°  '""''^  to  help 
spared  thaT?fe„S L  forXr!^  *""?'""«■  *«?  '^^f 
in  the  house.    A  noS^  SfJ?    "^  '""'. "  ^^S^e  artide 
litae  sooner  thV  tW^t"T"^  "^^^d.  however,  a 

helped  to  carrfC  ^to^n^of*^'^'^    ™«  "ffi-^' 
made  him  as  SSfOTteH»  .f     ? '■°°'"'' ''''««.  they 
aUow.    Father  L^Sll  ^   pu-cumstanoes  woull 
of  furniture,  hx  ttf S^if"^^'  "'^^  ^  »  «»PPly 
Virgin,  a  picture  of  KLS  ""*f*  "'  *^«  B'^S 
Kustine.    fc  set  Z  sLhT^^  '  "l*^  °°«  °'  ^t.  Au- 
fctened  the  pLi»es  1^"!^°"  "  «himney.pieca,  and 
down,  he  repeated  S  a  'i^*.''""j   ">«"  b^e^Iing 
•  HaU  mJL  add^n„  *i?'*'*1*°  ^''  ^«'*«-  and 
jncoura^g^o^^rn,!  fc  fc^f  V  '- 

!:h^hrco t  w;^  £e*':^fc'^  *^?  r^ 


oortion  as  pressinff 
>s  induced  the  good 
lutions  he  had  so 

as  on  the  occasion 
tt  Paris.    The  Na- 
>esought  the  help 
lome  for  the  aged 
he  Legion  offered 
and  desired  that 
Id  be  reserved  the 
)ajnient  of  eighty 
to  the  sex  of  the 
d,  and  they  took 
Rue  du  Regard.* 
iteed  beforehand, 
as  any  that  had 
'  in  the  morning 
tenants  had  but 
onal  Guard,  who 
in  the  affair,  met 
to  work  to  help 
liture,  they  were 
fc  a  single  article 
ived,  however,  a 
id.    The  officer 
oms,  where,  they 
nstances  would 
th  him  a  s  apply 
)  of  the  Blessed 
one  of  Sf,.  Au- 
anej'-pieca,  and 
then   kneeling 
Our  Father  and 
rards  in  a  few 
od  would  soon 

)USe.  anti    nnm- 

B  all  the  poor 
ey  were  indeed 
^  the  Invalfd». 


U*TLE  SISTIBS  OF  THK  POOB. 


46 


tiieir  mothers  The  ceremony,  such  as  it  was  was 
^S^^o^Z^^^-  ^*  ^t  destitkon  of  the  ph^,^ 
fC^i^  •®'^*1'!l'^®  greatness  of  their  mission! 
the  grateful  joy  of  the  poor  man  just  received  aSd 
the  presence  of  God,  whom  they  invoked  ffavete^^ 
whole  so  touching  an  aspect,  as  to  bri^g  teSTLto  Sj 
eyes  of  all  present.  At  night  they  got  a  S  for  Se 
poor  man  and  paillasses  for  the  Sisters  Prom  tS^t 
tmie  the  house  has  been  full.  Two  hundred  ^^  mt 
poor  people  now  live  there,  and  it  has  l^en  ope'n  sel^ 

In  the  month  of  June,  Monseigneur  the  ArchbishoD 
blessed  heir  chapel.  This  was  I  festival  ^XTl 
the  Legion  of  the  National  Guard  took  part  The 
house  was  adorned  only  with  the  same  hiinmW.  the 
same  holy  poverty,   the  same  grace  of  the  Sistl™ 

the  State,  who  pressed  into  their  little  chanel    all 

Srfht^h'  ''^'J  ^"^  ^^^^  P^-^'  borrwitn:M 
ttat  this  humihty,  poverty,  and  grace,  had  potent 

influence  even  over  men.     Monsei|neui^,  in  blessW 

the  chapel,  expressed  a  wish  that  eve^toWn  hi  FrS^ 

^fiX^'^-fwf^  i°  ^^"«'  ^^*  ^^^  becomT^: 
quamted  with  the  devotedness  of  the  Little  Sistera 
This  desnre  of  the  head  pastor  is  already  in  ttwTvTf 

foundmg^numerous  asylums  in  tiie  different  par4^ 

^A  t^^  *SJ®  afterwards,  another  house  was  opened 
at  La^aL  The  hospital  administrators  of  that  dtv 
had  received  a  l^acy,  on  condition  of  their  estabS 
^g  an  asy  urn  for  old  people.  The  legacv  wMa 
^l\T^'  '^  "T f*!^  ^*  ^  ^«"««'  extensfve^aXs 

mohT^^r'^  ^^V°'  *t"  ^^«Pi*^  adminiftrators 
such  a  gift  was  rather  a  burdensome  one,  although 
the  meadow-land  and  gaidens  were  weU  l^d  rSl 
juu  i^xoauciive  and  the  house  in  good  repair-  fw 
there  would  be  fumitMre  required,  aSd  the  n^^sa^ 

twoo^'^iTdS?^,!^  Paris,  ««»h  with  a  population  of 


46 


HISTORICAL  NOrrOB  OF  THE 


11!  r 


can  tell  S  bS^  ^J"''"'  ^^^^  and  who 
the  whole  propeX-woA^'^T  attaohed-nay, 
meet  so  mLy  expend     S^l  *"  ^T  ""ffi^en*  to 

making  somethW  ^/of  whl"'^*^^  ^«  »rt  of 
hospitSs  withou?i::^°'  ^wTv'en'^io  l.*°«"dW 
It  has  been  done  over  «n,i  i!/^     ™  "^  ""*  easjlv; 

hM  become  soSatStTtimffih"'  ""*  *^?  *^S 
themselTes  the  least  ahonf^T**''*^  "*''«'■  t^^We 

denoe ;  for  ttat  K  W?    f  themselves  strict  indepen- 

few  months;  but  there  is  no  Ai„hf  *     m?  °P®°  °'^y  » 
all  those  which  have^r^'c^^lf  '*  "^  ^°'^"''  ^^ 

laltle  SisteS  WeSSt^S  ""L°f,'^«if  ¥-^o.  the 

the  VoreHyTTco^Zj^^jT^*^^""^ 
estebSimieit  of  t^  S^oS^s  ^af?  ?**?" 
Xheycame  to  T,irnT.<i  ™i.i.    """^°  o*  <J>e  Institute. 
ma<fc  WorehM^d.    C*°"'  ""^  preparation  bein^ 
everybody?  ttr^eir^f^  IZ  "°^"°'"  *°  """"^ 
the  good-^  of^e  w  T^^""*?*  '^'^  o" 
them  a  visit  at  P^    -SS,  ^""^  ''^°  '""^  Pai<J 
eapport  than  tte  bSn JSf^h^  "i"-  "^f  ""'^"^ 
Moieisneur  de  1^^^  i  ™*.*^?^*^-Ar<*bMhop. 
to  tho^ho  ^Jk^^tV'^^f  '^  ^^^  BSmseff 
at  Toure  md^  Tif      ""*  ^e^O'^  ot  heaven.    As 

who'^CCovl^!^^  *t£!^'.««°<'.'™«  fount 

2P">ed  a.^'hoWIte';,mbrrTrra*  S"  t^^'^^ 

«»*«uw  already  twenfe^™^     '  ^^'  *^"  **  »ow 

«re»ay  twenty  poor  people.    DoubtlesB,  in 


B"  THE 

nt  must  be  defrayed 
,  directors,  and  who 
me  attached—nay 

from  sufficient  to 
ne  thought  ^f  the 
Bessed  the  art  of 
,  and  of  founding 
en  do  this  easily 
ain,  and  the  thing 
they  never  trouble 

seems  as  if  they 
matter. 

I  made  to  them  at 
es  strict  indepen- 
7hich  the  Church 
ildren  who  place 
absolutely  neces- 
>nt  of  their  holy 
been  op^n  only  a 
will  prosper,  like 

iges  which  were 
iheir  houses,  the 
3  glorious  privi- 
the  promises  of 
indation  recalls 
isplayed  in  the 
t  the  Institute, 
eparation  being 
own  to  almost 
nent  rested  on 
who  had  paid 
other  outward 
oal  Archbishop, 
r  Lord  Himself 
>f  heaven.    As 
md  was  found, 
w  Uaya     They 
I;  and  it  now 
Doubtless,  in 


LrPPLE  SIBTEB8  6V  THE  POOR. 


47 


ttus  almsgiving  dty  surrounded  as  they  are  by  work 
wi^  those  of  Bouen  and  Bordeaux  *     ^^"^  ^^" 

««t  auch  lowly  and  weiA^ISCefe^lS^^B^ 

efficaciously  than  all  the  kws  Td  d/^'/fSJ?^^" 
trations  in  the  world  on^UAr.  «  ^^  the  adnums- 
old  people  in  iCce      ™.  ^^^^  *^®«  thousand  poor 

«od  m^y^^r^;- J^e-?  ho  may  be.  but 

upon  the  road  to  Calvary  He  wis  tlH  *^  ^"""^  '^? 
men.  an  ohipnf  «*  a;T  ^'  n  .  ^*®  ^^^  *"©  scorn  of 
rejectS  sK^  ^^f  ^  ^""^  ^^^'^^  before  the  world  • 
2  tt^/l^*^P°_^'.'^^d,««^«red  with  blood  and  Jw' 


with  a  inen  doth      rTir^'Ti^^^^P^^  ^  fac« 
__^    imen  Cloth.     It  is  weU  known  how  marvel- 

tnnS^^  Sj;^y  '^^^  «^  ^  i^Jons.  with  at  le.«tf^ 


49 


HWTORIOAL  NOWOB  OF  THE 


'm 


of  Veronica.  That  wSJl?-  ?."f  """^  <"'  'hia  rf^ 
the  road  to  G^trytof^J^.^"^^ ^T"^  ^^  «P^ 
cross,  the  Little  SisWs  ofthe^^^^  ^"*»"'  «» 
day;  ai,d  our  adnuration  need  not  now  ^f  ^^  ^ 
They  draw  near  the  countenanJ^  If  ?  "*  lessened, 
poor,  stripped,  outraged  T„=^.   1°^  'f^™»  sufferimr. 

mercy  and  the  latest  tT  Tv""*^  ^^  **'"'««»» 

rendering  herwt  of  lovf  to  bfJn*''""'?  °'  »H  in 

orerrthing  to  bravc-tte  h^?";^?  ^f'-''^'-.  t«l 

10  enee  of  the  soldiera  an^rt^    °-  **  """d,  the 

wWoh  had  sneoeeSS  SfJ^  ™"vcrs«l  cont^pt 

mte  Jerusalem;  acont^m„t^^t    ^"^'^"^  "*»  ^^ 

*at  the  disciples  had  flT^lf.!""?  "^  "°  "t^ong, 

Mwter     The"^  Little  SCof  fK^""^"^  ^^"^^  M» 

teumphed  over  the  iSm  ^f  S*  ^°°''  ''«'«  "ow 

desires  of  nature-  thlv!^       •  ,  '"^  ^°'"W  and  the 

"tantly.  alwayrgiin^'^a^^jfo?"*,,**'  natme^cot! 

not  enough  for  ttem  t^o^.'f'f"'*^''^    It  i» 

"pugnance  towards  thesToHT    ,*"  °^««-come  all 

^ssusting   infirmitie8r^sii^3Pl°P'«.«>™>-ed  with 

gven  to  these  poor  creat,™..  •       ,*  "ecessaiy    cai» 

the  Sister  to  bffidXS«'^„':^'""  ^''«'  teaS 

they  must  themselves  drinkTel"!r'  °^  *«irLo«i, 

and  of  poTerty,_am.verf7  "^P*  o*  humiliation 

fe  have'said  4  ^v^r^i*?/''"T^«  ">»*  "othi^ 

l»venotyetbeen^?Jt^7l^dea  of  it  to  those  ^Jf 

In  fact  evervtliino-  ,„  'l^^J^  .^^'^^^  the  scenes. 
ti^e.  i^  the  SZ^tC^'^^""  "'^^  "ame 
themselves  every  moment  in  .,       ?"**"•    ^ey  find 
monest  and  mJk^nZ^Z^TJ^-T^  ^'  *»  "o^- 
It  IS  not  only  of  bXiEf.?/       ®  "*'«'«»  of  furniture 
of  those  a  ho^uS  ffiy^o^S  ^^  ^^eets  we  spS^ 
for  a  longer  or  shoS'tim^''^,'?  ™™  to  be  ^ce 
hshed,  and  for  which  Lm^^i^T^  1°'^  ««tab- 
has  not  aU  the  activit?of  t.w'^i^'A""^''  "**"  alive, 
*"t.w  sae  poor  Sistera  werlX.""^  "T"  everybody 

-.Of  these  houses^Zn-stlLTe^tt^' 


F  THE 

nd  no  Christian  can 
1  envy  on  this  glory 
[y  woman  did  upon 
lushed  beneath  His 
or  do  from  day  to 
t  now  be  lessened, 
of  Jesus  sufferinif, 

J^jected,  and  de- 
with  the  tenderest 
Veronica  of  old,  in 
►i^  ine  Maater,  had 
ot  the  crowd,  the 
Qiversal  contemnt 
ei^tiyof  the  Lord 
liigandsostronff 
T  had  denied  his 
>  Poor  have  now 
'8  world  and  the 
« to  nature  con- 
chnations.    It  is 
to  overcome  all 
ie,  covered  with 

necessary    care 
►m  faith  teaches 
es  of  their  Lord 
■e  of  humiliation 
^e  that  nothing 
t  to  those  who 
3  scenes. 
tU  at  the  same 
>rs.     They  find 
ed  of  the  com- 
s  of  furniture. 
»eets  we  speak: 
"e  to  be  scarce 
es  long  estab- 
;«gh  stiU  alive, 
aeii  everybody 
f  aU  things-! 
ly  destitute  of 


Lrrrus  sisters  op  the  k)ok.  49 

~^™l!°'  •       ,' V"*''  »  8t"te  that  the  cood  fafW 
o^imsewnecl  the  Tenr  next  penitent  who  cam*  ^ 

tr.±i'»^!.5f<'?^«?-?°tB  taking  a^z 

TOiaali™  ^"Xi-1S  ""  n"""'  '^^"Se-  Kor  does  this 
SMisaHon  of  delight  paU  upon  them  by  reiterattrmT 
»2  poor  old  creature  who  Ws  backX  G^T^^Si 
occasion  for  a  real  festiral  to  these  noble  he^Sta! 


50 


amuiacAL  Kono«  of  thb 


m 


«d  ever^  care  is  ^en  th!*  /».     **"®.''?  recurrence. 

,    preach  a  retreat  b.b  mon  ^  ZTy'^'"'^^^^  ^^^s  to 
poor  people.    The  wS. !?  xT'®^  ^^®  received  a  few 

nuclei  <5  devout  8^s^:Jdt^ev^^l^^"^«  *  ^^^e 
*o  win  over  to  GodT^,^!  *u^  !?  *^^"*  *^  labor 
sent  them  bv  His  ProvideTc?  IfJ^^""*^  companio^' 
pared  with  4e  rapturl  of  ^hl.    °*^^  ^'^  *>«  com- 
they  embrace  tieSew  i^fif!^^^''  reconciled  souls: 
abound  them,  unabirfS?vT.    *^^  ''^i^^y'  *^d  dance 
and    gi^titode      « SeSv  L!f^''''  ^^?^  l^appi^ss 
away,"  said  one  of  thim  "^T^   ^.^^'''  ^^«    P«*8ed 
•  ^  God,  and  now  TCrro^  fi^  ^•^™8^  '^ear 
Not  one  amongst  tlie  Ss  of  *h     "/,''^^^«  ^^'' 
could  resist  this  graced  rhjf  **^f  ^Wessed  houses 
then,  afThe  end  K  the  tSl  ZYt  -^"^  ^«P*  ^^ 
They  fully  appreciate  this  me^!!'  rL^"""-  ^^^  career. 
Jiis  confession,  a  poor  Kr  who  if  ??'"  ^*-    ^«' 
to   misery   by  a  severe  rheumal^  ^ 
fingers,  which  disabled  him  from  f  .11*^  •'^^?   °^  ^l^e 
Jion    was  observed  coXinii^/^^r''^^  ^«  ^««a- 
bands,  and  upon  being  aSwt^?!,^"  P°°^  ^««We 
so  eamestly.  Ibis  answi  waf  *^^1^'  ^v.-^  looking  at 
finger  of  God."    ThiTrLrno*-     *^ , considering  the 
abound  everywhere     The  h^^^^^^^    *^^  *^i«  gratitude 
easily  underXoriher4t^^T\°^-  *^«  listers  i^ 
tanly  embraced  abjS^nnt    ,  '^/'*'^^««'  and  volun- 
sacrifice;  it  is  of  their  o;^X^'  V^^J,  and  self- 
bave  taken  their  wav  of  lir^ff^J"^^*'^^  *l^at  they 
But  as  regards  ^r4l1\?/"^T^*l^eirvocatio/ 
take  care  of,  thesniJl!.    1     creatures  whom  thev 
^ce,  and  who  d^Lg  ^i!^  «^"^^  ^^  ^^em  lostij 
near  to  God  in  tre^sacrS  ^of^  ^^-^^  ^awn 
had  dragged  on  their  S'bL]/''^'''^**^^^'  but 
revolt  against  aU  duties^n     «ii  i   ""^^  "?  *  continual 
abort  of  a  miracle  to  Se  th^m^  ^^""''^^  '^  "^7^^^ 
forted,  attached  to  thS?  stfT  ^^PP/'f^ntente^  com? 
<v>»»fl/i^^-„-  .    ^     -  '^^eir  bistera.  and  fnll  «*  v..     _, 


UTTLIS   STSTER8   OP   THE   POOR.  5X 

tne  midst  of  the  mnqf  /lo1i'rri^4A,i  x  ■""'^tj^wuere,  in 
*nd  joy  attend  Mo^  nf*'^  i?**"*f '  P"^  "o^^ 
they  never  in  *),»;>  ^^         "  "'*'  P*"P'«  <'«<='»«  Sat 

r^  wond^rM  forTn„"r  *l'"'PPy  '»''>^«-  "<"• 
peace    ^rid^  41  «•  .  "^  '•'"'y  ''*™  consciences  at 

^i^te  me  hndn"sse"    to°  ^hL'^l""  »"  ""^'^  »' 
get  tte  poor  old  people  to  sing  also  and  g7t  m!^ 

joy4e  cMirn!t.nk  '  God*  X'.^^f't^"^  T 
not  be  happy  to  be  the  donor^f  *i,  ■ '  ""'^'''  ^"'^'^ 
Not  lon/^o  fh„l.  donor  ofthese  innocent  feasts  ? 

anrntyS/ff  i,^f„^°T.-  **  ^«°  celebrated  the 

•  who  ra^eare^itXtt ?«;„»?'  P?'  "'"^  ^""""^ 
of  the  day  T^  «rm  .?,  °^  **■*  ''y'""  ^™  q»eon 
flowera  3  hi.      "^m-^air  was  ornamented    vith 

themselTes.         ^  "  °'°  ""^  destitute  as 

Sisters  of  ttf  Pot     Th^  W.'"',"^,l«'«  I^ttt« 
of.    m.^oSSl.i^h'!^*:.r.«'^»'y  ^-'^  "dvantaffo 

I-borf  had  s^nt^ytnUrallL^^^fre^;^ 


52 


HI8TOW0AL  Konam  or  tm 


procession  was  comDosed  of  flli«,J^     censers.     The 
women  of  the  hoST ^ttet  *"»«  ^^"'Xr 

repeated  by  the  haltintfau'   •       *^®  ^^^^^'^  ^^s 
crlatures.     Alont  the  w«ltf    T^'   coughing  poor 

their-  arih-ihLt  w^«  w*'^  ""^^"^  ''■°"'  ^^^^  "^^  or 

maintenance.  ^Shl  h^ft^jTf '.fTIPZ!'^  »'  "« 
ne  lessons  of  her  Divme  SaTioor  amongst  the  Little 


.         UTTLE  SISFIEBS  OF  THI  POOB.  \  ga 

f^^     ^-^  ^^  '^"'  ^  forgiveness  in  her  heart 

T«^T.*«^^'?'.  «elf-«acrifice,  and  charity        ^^^ 
Whilst  SociaHstic  and  Mat;rialistic  doYrine8-tii« 

way  eve^herf:  '^""^«^  "^  "^^  ""*^  i^ 

Nothing  stops  this  blessed  work.    Their  fonrfl, 

ioiH ,  the  fifteenth  and  the  sixteenth  are  iust  ahm,t  S 
^  °Pf  ?«<!  "ow  at  Marseilles  and  Lffla    Le  us  ho™ 

Jlerer  did  the  world  stand  in  more  dire  need  of 
W  and  of  charity,  or  of  a  reverent^  lotf  f^' 

complete,  bv  brinain.  i.  lA^!.^"^*^  '^'^^^er  it  more 

nanuting  what  halbSen  doTe"  Ty  ZSa%'?'  ""^. 
the  Poor  these  thirty-five  years  •  bnt  thi  ^'^^^?  ^^ 
the  task  overwhelms  us     ^       '         *^^  magnitude  of 


54, 


HISTORICAL   NOTICE    OF   THE 


The  little  work  begun  at  St.  Servan  has  become  dnA 
thousand  poor  old  people  etc     THa  r Thi.  q-  *     ^i.""^® 

beginning  under  his  direction.  ™  "^ 

In^.^f Congregation  was  also  admitted  to  the  nrivi 

£e.^l^^t"M^^  h^n  Cr-d  t 

aly  so  i;\d'is  U'^l^S  S'w4''inf„"^ 
rated  and  solemnly  blessed    in  tha  mT^oI     p  maugu- 


APPENDIX 


THE  LITTLE  SISTERS  OF  THE  POOR 

IN  AMEBICA. 

oom^eS^o'hS'  lltiitt  «^«-J?^  *he  I'oor.  which 
rapidly  in  all,  the  pSipal  ci&ih«  n^^^^  ^S'^***  i^elf  sS 
ably  calculated  to  devX  iteeff  i"  t^-  i  -*''  ^*«  a^^^i'" 

Worfd,  where  there  we  ««  m?«i  ^  5^®  ^*^g®  0**^68  of  the  New 
Dut  means  of  sSppoT    SCX?e'te^  "ifinn  persons  ^thl 

«an  do;  and  wherfge  and  inffifii'^  ^'^'^^'  *^**  ^«  ^  he 
resource  is  left  to  Ur^^llTathJ?^^  T""  ^"^^  ^^^* 
There,  it  is  true,  the  wSitR  of  SL  ?T'  *^?,^  **^®  almshouse. 
^.  how  cold  is  th?s  official cha5tv?1f  ^'^}  ^^  ^^VpUed;  bn 
Jgarnst  these  establishmente  so  tS  L«n7 '*'^?f  *h«  Prejudice 
than  seek  a  shelter  under  thdrroon^LT?''^*^  '1^"'  «**'^e 
deters  many  aged  poor  from  !r.«i  °     Another  motive  which 
ahnshouses  Vthat^Xn  thev^.?I^P  ^/°,^  admission  into  the 
to  be  surrounded  in  St?An1^  ^  ®  Catholics,  they  would  wish 

which  their  reUgi^n  affi,rid  S  ^^^^  ^^^  the'^consoSS 
to  resume  the  piacticTnfftta^-  ^^  *^^''  y^^^h ;  they  wiS 

citements  and^c^erof^btres^'r^L^^"^  ^^^«^  '^^^' 
neglect,  perhaps,  for  a  time  Sff  1w7  ^^t  °?"««^  *hem  to 
?!Ti?.*heA'eart8'  in'm^t  S!.l°711.^^i°^l«  ^tten 
«v  uuuot,  is  occasionaUy  allowed' t^^^o^l"""^""*  ^^  P"®**. 
dutaes  of  his  ministry  but  t W  f«^  ?  "?®  -^^  perform  the 
the  cmvings  of  hisS  ]        ^^^  tTmsient  visits  ^  not  satisfy 


56 


APPENDIX. 


ftom  tte  ilU "s^te™  of  Sp^^Z"™"  ?  °*  »  '"''^» 
tunes  We  made  so  rapidlv  th-v  ^!'  «^  '■  °?™"5'  "l""  «"- 
although  the  naluJ^SitSp^JSivSToJ'ftf  ''"?"y'  "»'' 

A  perusal  of  the  list  of  inmfti^o  4«  ♦v  ^  ^^^nstian  charity. 
Sisters,  in  New  Or  L^.  S^ond  wJ^T  °^  *^«  ^i*«^ 
show  that  many  of  Xm  w«~^«2r'  Washington,  etc.,  would 

days,  a^d  enjo/ed°U  th^cZ^  oflife       "^^  ^^°""  ^^**«' 

lan^^eTcSXaSfotZltiS:^^^^^         *?   nationalities, 
Catholic,  orunive^chftmofit^ri-^'?^  ^  «*»°^  *he  trul^ 
No  distiActio^rSe^Tco'  fL*^"^  institution  of  charit, 
that  the  Catholic  elemStnr«r^  T  Persuasion.    It  is  true 
interference  is  ever  made  wiftf  **??'•  ^""^  5°*  *^«  ««gJ»tert 
inmate,  who  can  auiSv  i7l?  .?®  '^^"^  ""^  *^e  Proliant 
side  of  the  J^d^oTd  Irishiifn  Sr^^^         >^  Bible  ^e 
The  loving,  Cder  care  of  Z?  ^^T'^^v.'f^^K  ^  «^ary. 
kindnesse?  for  the^ d?ar  old^,?^??^"'.  ^\^.  thousand  daily 
move  the  prejudices  which  fhJnoAJ^i.**',?^  .^^^'  ^d  r^ 
^J«^-/dagainst^K^^  "-^*««  -g^t 

contect  with  thei  but  it  exerts  4eff^^^^^^^  J^^  ',?°^«  ^^  dailj 
Home,  aiany  a  neEnrrh^iti  k^^J"^  *^®  ^^"=^»*8  of  thei 
newedfervor^aSd  loveTf  Go?  bvw,^"^  been  animated  to  re- 
and  self-denial  of  hri^ttle  sIkeS  OfT'^^v,  *^'  ^^"  °^  f^*^ 
gift  of  faith,  and  have  been  eSV.n?/!  "^^^^^  '^°«^^«^  *^« 
whence  these  Sisters  derive  thfi^rfc^J  f  *°  *b^  ^^'^'ce  from 
holy  calling.  A  Pr^S  reSr  Ton^n?'™'^r  ^  *^«^ 
papers,  titer  visiting  the  house  «S!i  f  °^  our  large  news- 
Sisters:  "The  half  hour  wStV  "^  ^°  ^J"^  o^  *be  Little 

removed  more  pri^uSfTommvmT^  ^'^'''  ^«« 

during  twenty  year8;a.^ainst^h«rTf?  accumulated, 

speak  more  efficacioutlvXn  t    i^°^'°/^Vg^°^;  *"or  actions 
shall  know  thern^"^  '^"^  ''°'*^^'  '^'^  'by  their  fruits  ye 

are^^s'i^iSeTb^twonolifet^^^^^^  '\^'^^  «-'- 

acquired  by  exDerienr.flfh„fT  *^.f  ^^*  *«'  *be  certainty. 

th?y  will  hi  surported  herf  Tn'tZr^  their  Homes  ar.  .recte  J 
Europe,  by  theird^lv  colle^tSS  J  ''^'^  States-as  well  as  ii^ 
for  a  Wenumberof  nnm.^^  ?°^°'^''®y'  ^°°^'  or  clothing; 
what  is  wLted^L  mlrh^/33^5^^^^^    '''^  ««PPorted  witl' 

the  most  important  irthRt?h!«^i*  ?^®  ^^nd,  and  by  far 
Instead  nf  i^^\v  :**•**  *^«  good  tc  be  realized  is  iminin«« 

chari^-of  ttJ';^?idTeD5?S  ofiuf?'?°™  P™'*^  *«  tbe  c'dd 
sacraments,  of  ^u'^'^^^'Lir^^^^TX^ 


APPENDIX. 


67 


nurse  them  in  sickness- tlTrofo^'  -^  ^^^  ^^^^  a»d  soul;  io 
piUows  with  genSrraiid^.'^nW  r'^^^'L'^,  «"^°«*^  *^«i^ 
and  assuage  tfieir  pa£?-th£iS  fht  «    T  T'*^  ^°^^?  ^«'d8. 
Sister,  wlfose  whSrL  1^  detoLd  T^I^  °^  *^^ 
spiritual  welfare  of  her  d^  old  nllii?    **^e  Jf^poral    and 
succeed  in  leading  the?  thXcrhte  t^iH^""'     ^^^  ^^  ^^ 
that  nuiny  of  thei?  inm^t«J  have  i^S  Tl^^  ^^£^  ?<^^>  so 
God,  who  led  them,  by  St^d  of  n^^  *?  bless  the  hand  of 
The  Little  Sister^  have  fo^d  r  1«?^^'  *°  ^^"^  ^'^^^^  ^^  '««*• 
good  work  in  the  uSd  XL  ^•^JT'''  ?°°Pe»tion  in  their 
their  views,  and  natSv  «U^'ki  '  i^®"f  ^«  "«  "'^eral  in 
ness  which  leads  nowSloal^rlni**'*^ "^^^  *^**  devoted.' 
helpless  and  misewble  memfc^  nST^-^**  *^"  *"°'  '»^«  °»o«t^ 

prodded  fox  theZ^iJZt^u^^''''^''^?^^^^  houses 

they  confemd  o^theffiect  ^lh°.r  ^if^\  P""  *^«i'  '^t^'"^ 
Hughes,  who  eaSr^enSed  i^^w  ^l^^^^t^ous  Archbishop 
visit  the  SuperiTof  ihTrfHio^^**^'*''' PT^' *^<*  P'o»»wed  to 
journey  ^SLm^nt^t^^*^'^.°L^^^^''''^^^riiig  the 

ivent8.Wh  occu^eS  tti  a?tW^^  ^^'^P^'  ^«'  Pofi«<^ 
putting  his  projec?^to  exS'uSon      ^''  P'"^"^^'*  ^  ^^"^ 

vi8it^rtCMX^.£i«u?rf%t:  L^^^^^  ?''^'  ^'J"'^  Orleans, 
view  with  the  foimder  Be^  StW  t  jl'"?,""''  "'•^'  ^  «^  ^^^r- 
the  cause  of  the  a^ed  poor  of  Ki^^l^"^^^^^^^  ""^I^^^  P^^^^ed 
personally  or  bv  lefSr    kL  k  **.  Other  petitions,  either 

Eishops  oLeLw  lavmen  from  ?^'«  n"'^^!,  SL^^'^^"^  *i^««.  ^7 
the  scarcity  of  sibiS  wi,?  51^^®  ^'''*®^  ^^^'  *>«*•  owing  to 
sufficiently w  to  sunSw^a  although  very  numerous,  were  not 

had  to  be  deffid  ZmSL«  n/?^'"'  *°  **»«  ^''i*^^  States 
these  delaysiX  paid  a  ««r.nJSP  ^^^^.^ff  °°*  discouraged  by 
and  renewJdCrequesJ  for  Shi^rw^^  *^*.  l"^*'*'^^  ^°^der, 
eloquence,  thrtte^Suterio^  frff  fw"^*"^*^  '"°^  persuasiv^ 

roai  oiiiidven  to  a  diatanf  u«T~^ ^^^°  '■^  °^"°  ''^^^r  »piri- 


58 


APPENDIX. 


to  the  Congregation  of  the  Little  Sisten  of  the  Poor  saileil 

Jdected  for  the  e8tebli8hm,.„t  of  fte  a^  &,S'S,i3 
houses.     On  the  28th  of  A-immi  1  rrS  V*     *    *  o^x^"?®  ''^  °*^» 

fer  &  Brest,  tehere  they  eS^bMkeTLT^T.rPf'"''  ""T. " 
™  to  eoavey  them  toCll^w  fleW  of°tebo''  """"" '"'"' 

firi  1S?S  fe?  7mm  J^  •'^T''  *^  ?^«  ^**««  Sisters  on  their 

/ifn^*  ''*«"  P'-o^'f'--  and  what  fa  «iiTKrr?f  the  Wn? 
ttc^  ^JJ°/btl^3  o°/i'Se"^«  toZ^/*e'']SS2 
o«j,,i HomStoS,. trSSd  si""  ■"*■"  "«"  ""y  >»" 

h^B^lrletTth^^'"!^^  ""fi^'  '««<»«»ate.  and  private 
kt  tamed  to  good  nse  for  the  benefitTf  thei  aged  iLniaT«. 


APPENDIX. 


59 


go  on  foot,  from  door  to  doorfsSic  tog  .trfo,  the*  d^^ 

fc'i;r''*1*  thor?„ghfi«  of  oS  dtS^M^tewe^ 
L701M  or  Bnuseb;  objects  of  momentary  oniiositv  tolom^  rt,2 

awters  in  iirooklyn,  a  second  colony  arrived  in  New  York  nn 
their  way  to  open  a  house  in  CinciniatL  S  December  of  f  S 
■ame  year,  the  Sisters  who  were  to  tSe  SmI^^^X,  *>,  •  I 
house^ved  in  New  OrleanP,  Ld  ^re  tXly  41ome1 
i^T,Wa^*™'t^?*?  ^'^°1«  population,  and  by^e  ^tne^hll 
^uS^h"^}^  ^i  struggled  so  hard  to  secure  thlHw 

S«  nWnT*']?  v^"^  ^^'^  *^«  ^«^«^t  of  the  aged  poor,  who  w^ 
the  objects  of  his  pate/a.al  solicitude.  *^      '  ®" 

.  .Kequeste  for  the  establishment  of  new  houses  were  nn,i«-«» 

Smro^?  T*^°?^- J^  y«^'  fourhouse^Tre^'op^Lfr^ 
i^tamore,  St.  Louis,  Philadelphia,  and  Louisville  iS  ImL' 
oeeding  year  saw  the  establishment  of  houses  in  B^in!^!: 

iSd'^siit;'^^'^  '°"^^^^  by  thoseof  ^Lhin^'iS:;: 

have  bSS"  rSS^'in^P,""  °^*  *^"  ^"^^«  °^  *^«  ^^^a^  Sisters 
houses  W«£l«  •  ""  H™?'*  Vf^  ^'ge  city  of  the  Union 
nouses  have  been  opened,  to  which  the  aged  poor  flock  in 

hr^iL'?'?i^f  ^t!''^''^-  .  ^^  *^«  MotKrScS,  Ih^ 
f«7QT^  *"  **"*  ^^'^^^  "»  *be  United  States,  returned  iS 
1872,  to  give  an  account  of  her  visit,  to  the  SuDeriors  in?mn«? 

tlT^^  iT^^'^^y  ^*y  *^^*  *^«  thiiSen  hoX  ak'eSy  Sa'b' 
hshed^could  compare  very  favorably  with  the  older  hocuses  oi 

r,o?i*'£[^  *^®  interval  between  1873  and  1882,  flft^n  new  houses 
have  been  commenced,  thus  making  twenty-dght  housed  of  the 
Little  Sisters  scattered  over  the  United  States  ^thin  a  sStorhood 
of  three  hundred  and  thirty  members,  ministerinjr  to  the  wanti^ 
about  three  thousand  five  hundred  po^r  old  men  wd  womr^X 
out  distmction  to  creed,  color  or  nationaUty  ^ 

wh^!S\'o^.^?13eSvT^A<*  ^5<>^«nced  so  successfullv. 
f^i^Z~  ~ii'  """T  ^^^'-v  "i«3scu  oy  uoa  noni  its  humble  beein 
fwfViT^'  "?;*  *rf *•  8**.  °^  ^creasing  every  day.    T^  have  Sfd 
llV\l  f'^  of  America  was  richW  fertilJ;  not  only  w^ 

needy,  but  God  will  speak,  as  He  already  has  done,  to  the 


J.. 


60 


APPENDIX. 


•nd  devotedness  to  God's  chosen  Door  ho  <l,a*  «f  Ii-t  i  ^1***** 

to3riS?7'i.  /  ye  gaT«  me  to  eat;  thiraty,  and  yemri  ml 
vJ^^'  ""''«d.  ""dye  ooTewd  me.    Com^  ,,  blSe^lf  mJ 


twenty^ight  in  Ameriea,  three  inVfrica^i  i„  ?  iT^'^v^"^' 
S.0,1^,  one  in  ,he  Island  ot  Mala,  and  „SJi^'Ldl'(A-L,*'*'  '" 


1-1840. 
8—1846. 
8-1846. 
4-1847. 
6-1849. 
6-1849. 
7—1849. 
8-1850. 
9—1850. 
10-1850. 
11-1850. 
1»-1851. 
18-1851. 
14-1851. 
18-1851. 
16-1852. 
17-1852. 
18-1852. 
19-1852. 
20-i852, 
21-1852. 
28-1862. 
88-1853. 
84-1855. 


St.  Servan. 
Rennes. 

Dinan. 

Tonra. 

Nantes. 

Paris,  Bue  St.  Jacqaea. 

Be8an9on. 

Angers. 

Bordeanx. 

Ronen. 

Nancy. 

Paris,  Avenue  de  Bretenil 

London,  Port;obello  Bd. 

Laval. 

Lyon,    aVIlette. 

Lille. 


MarscHlea. 
Boni^s. 
Pan. 
Vannes. 
Cohnar. 
La  BocheUe. 
Dijon. 
St.  Omer. 


27-1858. 

28-1853. 

29—1853. 

80-1853. 

81— l»j4. 

82-1854. 

83-1854. 

84—1854. 

85-1854. 

86—1854. 

87-1854. 

88-1864. 


Ligge,  Belgium. 
Bolbec. 

London.  St.  Peter's  Homo 
Paris,  Ene  Picpoa. 

Toulouse. 


••-1868. 


iii^iii. 

Cluurtoes. 


St.  Dlzler. 
Le  Havre. 

Blois. 

Brussels. 

Le  Mans. 

Tarare. 

Paris,  Bua  Notre-Dame 
des  Champs. 

89-1856.    Origans. 

40-1856.    Strasbiii^. 

41— 1S56.  Le  noviclat  et  la  Maison- 
M6re  &  la  Toar  Saint  Joseph  ea 
Salnt-Pem,  Hie  et  Vllaine. 

42-1856.    Caen. 

Saint-Btiemie. 
Perplgnan. 
Louvaln. 
Hontpellier. 


48-1856. 
44-1856. 
45—1858. 
46—1856. 
47-1887, 
48r-1857. 
49-1867. 


— — j>^,.^;.y  jLn^^EXUBS* 

Ogen. 
Poitien. 


APPENDIX. 


I  them  to  mnit* 
of  abnegutifui 
it  the  last  dsy^ 
to  them  :  '•  J 
d  ye  gave  me 
blessed  of  my 
rom  the  fonn- 


61 


jes,  of  which 
seventeeD  in 
•ty  in  Spain, 
taly,  three  in 
Asia): 

giom. 

.Peter's  House 
Picpoa. 


Notve-DaoM 


et  la  MalBon. 
It  Joseph  en 
laine. 

le. 


f^jgXSiSXS* 


BO— IflSa    Saint  Qoentin. 
51— 18S6.    Lldeux. 
68-1886.    Annonay. 
68-1869.    Amiens. 
64—1859.    Koanne. 
65-1860.    Valenciennes. 
66-1860.    Grenoble. 
67—1860.    Dragnignan. 
68-1860.    Chfiteauronx. 
68-1860.    Roubalc. 
60—1860.    Bonlogne-snr-mer. 
61-1861.    Dieppe. 
68-1861.    B^zlers. 
68—1861.    Clermont-Ferrand. 
«*-1861.    Geneve,  Switzerland. 
65-1861.    Lyon,  Croix-Kousse. 
66-1861.    Met*. 
67—1863.    Manchester,  England. 
68-1888.    Bruges,  Belgium. 
Nice. 
Lorlent. 
Nevers. 
Flers. 

Glasgow,  Scotland. 
Bristol,  England. 
Villefranche. 
Cambrai. 
Barcelone,  Spain. 
Bundee,  Scotland. 
Namur,  Belgium. 
Manrdse,  Spain. 
Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
Anvers,  Belgium. 
Niort. 
Grenade. 

Birmingham,  England. 
Paris,  Hue  Phillipe  de 

Lerida,  Spain. 
Lorca,  Spain. 
Malaga,  Spain. 
Antequera,  Spain. 
Plymouth,  England. 


70-1862. 
71-1868. 
78—1868. 
73-1862. 
74-1868. 
75-1863. 
76-1883. 
77—1868. 
78—1863. 
7»-1868. 
80-1868. 
81-1868. 
88-1863. 
88-1868. 
84-1868. 
85-1864. 
86-1864. 
Qiraid. 
87-1864. 
88-1864 
89-1865. 
90-1865. 
91-1865. 
flg— laut 

98-1868w 
94-1866. 
•6-1866. 


Troyes. 

Leeds,  ^ingland. 
Ostende,  Belginm. 


•6-1866.  NewcaaUe  -  on  -  Tme. 
England.  '^ 

87-1866.    Nanbeuge. 

Madrid,  Spain. 

Nimes. 

Toulon. 

Jaen,  Spain. 

Tourcoing. 

Cherbourg. 

Valence. 

Pfirigueux. 

Waterford,  Ireland. 

Bens,  Spain. 

Brooklyn,     near    New^' 
York,  Amt^rica. 
109-1868.    Cincinnati,  America. 
Algiers,  Africa. 
New  Orleans,  America 
Dunkerque. 
Belms. 

Baltimore,  America. 

St.  Louis,  America. 

Vic-en-Bigorre. 

Philadelphia,  America 

Louisville,  America, 

Cannes. 

Aoste,  Italy. 

Boston,  America. 

Cleveland,  America. 

New  York,  America. 

Washington,  America. 
Albany,  America. 
Huesca,  Spain. 
Allegheny,  America. 
Salamanca,  Spain. 
Indianapolis,  America. 
Gand,  Belgium. 
Grasse. 

11N>y,  America. 
Rochefort. 
Chantenay. 
Lons-le-Saunier. 
Detroit,  America. 
Salnt-PIerre  les  Calais. 
Oharteroi,  Belgium. 
Hataro,  Spain. 
Bichmond,  America. 


98-1867. 

99-1867. 
100-1867. 
101—1867. 
108-1867. 
108—1867. 
104-1867. 
105-1888. 
106-1868. 
107—1868. 
108-186S, 


110-1888. 

111-1868. 

118—1868. 

118-1869. 

114-1869. 

115-1869. 

116-1889. 

117-1869. 

118-1869. 

119—1869. 

180-1869. 

121-1870. 

122-1870. 

123-1870. 

184-1871. 

125-1871, 

126-1878. 

127-1872. 

128—1872. 

129-1873. 

180-1873. 

131—1873. 

182—1878. 

138-1873. 

184—1873. 

133-1878. 

136—1873. 

I37r-1874. 

138-1874 

189-1874. 

140-1874. 


62 

1«-1874. 
148-1875. 
144—1876. 

Spain. 
146-1875. 
146-1875. 
147-1876. 
148-1876. 
149-1876. 
160-1876. 
161-1876. 

Bngland. 
168-1877. 
16^1877. 
154-1877. 
165-1877. 
166-1877. 
167-1877. 
168-1877. 
159-1877. 
160-1877. 

Spain. 
Ml-1873. 
168-1878. 
168-1878. 
164-1878. 
165-1878. 
166-1878, 
167-1878. 
1<»-1878. 
169—1878. 
170-1878. 
171-1878. 
178-1878. 
178-1878, 
174-1879. 
176-1879. 
176-1879. 
177-1879. 
178-1879. 


APPENDIX. 


Liverpool,  England. 

Antan, 

Birkenhead,  England. 

Jew* .  de  -  la  -  Frontera, 

Limogea. 

Cork,  Ireland. 

St.  Denis. 

Milwaukee,  America. 

Chicago,  America. 

Anch. 

London,      St.      Anne, 

Palma,  Isles  Majorques. 

Kive-de-Qler. 

Zamora,  Spain. 

Tarragone,  Spain. 

Saintes. 

Armentieres, 

Vlenn*en  Daophin^ 

Cadiz,  Spain. 

San  Lucar  de  Barrameda, 


Pampelone,  Spain. 
La  Valette,  Malta. 
Murcle,  Spain. 
Manchester,  England. 
Seville,  Spain. 
Catane,  Sicily. 
M6dinl  Sidonia,  Spain. 
Newark,  America. 
Vitoria,  Spain. 
Ecija,  Spain, 
St.  Sebastian. 
O^rone,  Spain. 
Baeza,  Spain. 
Plasencia. 
I^aples,  Italy, 
Bilbae,  Sp^4 
Lyon,  Vaise. 
TortoM,  Spain. 


lTO-1879. 

180-1879. 

181—1880. 
lea. 

188—1880. 

188—1880. 

184-1880. 

lea. 
1  ^^  1880. 
186—1880. 
187-1880. 
188-)S80, 
189—1881. 
190-1881. 
191-1881. 
198-1881. 
196-1881. 

America 
194-1881. 
195-1881. 

Belgiom. 
196-1881. 
197-1881. 
198-1881 


Carcaaconna. 

Cac^res.  "> 

Soath  Brooklyn,  Anar* 

La  Madellene-les-Lille. 
Brighton,  Bngland. 
Germantown,  Pa.,  x-  meiw 

Liverpool,  England. 
Rome,  Italy. 
Carlisle,  England. 
Toledo,  Spain. 
Valladolid,  Spain. 
Providence,  America. 
Acfa-dale,  Sicily. 
Preston,  England. 
St.  Joseph,  New  York, 

Bone,  Africa. 

St.     Michel,    Bnuaeli, 


Osnna,  Spain. 
Turin,  Italy. 

St.   Augustine,   Bareo- 
lona,  Spain. 

199-1881.    Dublin,  Ireland. 
Tunis,  Africa. 
Le  Perrol,  Spain. 
Oarthaggne,  Spain. 
Milan,  Italy. 
Messlne,  SlcUy. 
St.    Peter,    Cincinnati, 


200—1881 
aOl-1888, 
208-1882 


204-1882. 
806-1888. 
America. 
206-1882.    Evansville,  America. 

Kansas  City,  America. 

Sheffield,  England. 

Florence,  Italy. 

N.  Chicago,  America. 

Calcutta,  India,  (Asia.) 

New  Orleans,  Amoijcg^ 


207-1888, 
208-1888. 
209-1888. 
210-1888. 
211-1888. 
«1»-1888. 


ine. 


/ 


Dokljn,  Aaiit>. 

ene-]e«-Lllla. 
BngUod. 
'n},Pa.,x  meiw 

Bnglaod. 
y. 

Qglaod. 
aln. 
>  Spain. 
,  AmericA. 
Icily. 
]gland. 
New  York, 

!a. 

Ii    BrnMelfl, 

n. 

ine,   Barce- 

isd. 
a. 

pain. 
Spala. 

tiy. 

ClaclmiAtl, 

Jnerica. 
America.       ; 
i:land. 

ly. 

imerica. 
la,  (Asia.) 


